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CITY · 2010 ACS

Emerald Isle

North Carolina · 3,655 residents · 4.92 sq mi
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The short version

Emerald Isle is home to 3,655 people in North Carolina. The median age is 52.2, about 15 years above the US median. This is an unusually credentialed place: 47% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $435,700, having more than doubled since 2000. 0% of residents were born outside the United States. Poverty is uncommon here, at 6.5% of residents.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 52.2
US median: 37.2
More educated
47% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 85%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

3,655
+5%since 2000
from 3,488 in 2000
1990 – 2025
52.2
+4%since 2000
from 50.1 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
4.92 sq mi
Population, 19902024
2K3K3K4K4K19902000201020202024Emerald Isle
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 53.2%(116)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 93.8%(140)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 144.8%(177)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 194.1%(149)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 244.9%(178)
US avg: 7%
25 to 349.7%(353)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4410.5%(382)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5413.4%(490)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6419.9%(727)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 7416.1%(587)
US avg: 7%
75 to 848.3%(303)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over1.5%(53)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$50,380
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,274 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
$34,279
+9%since 2000
from $31,316 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
38.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 40.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
6.5%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
0.399
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information16.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Finance & insurance7.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical7.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade5.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 3.1%
Retail trade1.3%
US avg: 10.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Public administration0.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$435,700
+85%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $185,600 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
$1,094
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $750 in 2000
US average: $853
72.2%
−7.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
27.8% rent
73.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 72.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
2.08 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.06 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
36.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
22.0%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
8.6
+8%since 2009
from 8.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(3,335)
Black0.8%(27)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(57)
Asian0.6%(22)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(3,483)
Black0.6%(21)
Hispanic / Latino2%(72)
Asian0.8%(28)
Other2.5%(91)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2%(71)
Dominican0.4%(14)
Ancestry
English20%(724)
American16.2%(586)
German14.5%(526)
Scotch-Irish8.8%(319)
Irish7.4%(269)
French4.2%(153)
Welsh4.1%(150)
Italian3.3%(121)
Scottish2.7%(98)
Polish2.4%(87)
Dutch2%(71)
Swedish1.5%(53)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian1.4%(51)
Norwegian1.2%(42)
Slovak1%(36)
Russian0.8%(28)
Czech0.6%(21)
Swiss0.5%(17)
Croatian0.3%(11)
Austrian0.3%(10)
Finnish0.3%(10)
Danish0.2%(9)
Portuguese0.2%(8)
Section 05

Education

46.7%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 40.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
97.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 95.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
17.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

26.3 min
+37%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
75.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
11.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
8.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
1.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
0.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
1.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

13.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
36.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

50.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
49.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
20.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married14.6%(262)
Married76.7%(1,381)
Widowed2.3%(41)
Divorced6.4%(116)
Women 15+
Never married13.2%(247)
Married71.5%(1,334)
Widowed7.2%(134)
Divorced8%(150)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

2.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 9.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
56.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2020
from 50.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
30.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 29.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
38.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2020
from 32.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
6.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 5.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 6.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
86.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 85.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
43.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2020
from 38.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)34.4%(148)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)44.4%(191)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.9%(150)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7.2%(31)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 430 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

Emerald Isle, North Carolina has about 3,655 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

The typical household in Emerald Isle, North Carolina earns about $50,380 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Emerald Isle, North Carolina expensive?

In Emerald Isle, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $435,700, and the typical rent is about $1,094 a month.

How educated are people in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

About 46.7% of adults age 25 and over in Emerald Isle, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Emerald Isle, North Carolina?

About 6.5% of people in Emerald Isle, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Emerald Isle, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Emerald Isle, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,221 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →