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CITY · 2020 ACS

Morehead City

North Carolina · 9,556 residents · 7.41 sq mi
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The short version

Morehead City is a city of 9,556 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 47.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 49% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 4%. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average. The population is up 24% since 2000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 47.1
US median: 38.8
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 68%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,556
+24%since 2000
from 7,691 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
47.1
+15%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
7.41 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K8K9K10K19902000201020202024Morehead City
202410K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.3%(412)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(489)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 144.9%(464)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.6%(441)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(462)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.5%(1,196)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.6%(1,105)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412%(1,145)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.9%(1,422)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.7%(1,406)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.4%(707)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.2%(307)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,802
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,737 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,136
+78%since 2000
from $19,138 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.9%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 10%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$255,700
+68%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $101,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$924
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $507 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
49.5%
−6.0 ptssince 2000
from 55.5% in 2000
50.5% rent
Persons per household
1.99 people
−2%since 2009
from 2.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
5.7
+10%since 2009
from 5.2 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-Hispanic80.8%(6,213)
Black13.9%(1,071)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(180)
Asian0.7%(52)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic78.4%(7,492)
Black7.7%(738)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(741)
Asian1.3%(123)
Other3.3%(311)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.2%(402)
Puerto Rican2.8%(262)
Spaniard0.7%(69)
Cuban0.2%(23)
Salvadoran0.1%(12)
Honduran0.1%(11)
Chilean0.1%(8)
Argentine0.1%(6)
Guatemalan0.1%(5)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.2%(118)
Chinese0.7%(64)
Korean0.2%(19)
Filipino0.1%(12)
Ancestry
English24.4%(2,314)
German12.7%(1,210)
Irish9.8%(928)
American7.8%(741)
Italian5.5%(520)
Scottish2.5%(239)
Dutch1.8%(170)
Polish1.7%(161)
Norwegian1.5%(138)
French1.3%(122)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(47)
Danish0.5%(44)
British0.4%(41)
Welsh0.4%(38)
Lebanese0.3%(32)
Austrian0.3%(32)
Russian0.3%(31)
Canadian0.3%(29)
West Indian0.3%(24)
Czech0.2%(19)
Hungarian0.2%(18)
Greek0.2%(17)
Slovene0.2%(15)
Belgian0.1%(11)
Lithuanian0.1%(11)
Portuguese0.1%(8)
Serbian0.1%(8)
Swiss0.1%(7)
Finnish0.1%(6)
Ukrainian0.1%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.3%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.6%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.6 min
+43%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.0%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
11.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.3%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 65.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
74.5%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
38.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
4.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.8%
−12.9 ptssince 2013
from 21.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
88.8%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
79.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.2%(1,261)
Married45.1%(1,716)
Widowed4.8%(183)
Divorced16.9%(643)
Women 15+
Never married28.6%(1,292)
Married43.1%(1,945)
Widowed13.8%(623)
Divorced14.5%(656)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
8.8%
−12.9 ptssince 2013
from 21.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
48.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
23.7%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
24.4%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
17.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
71.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
39.9%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.7%(209)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)32.1%(272)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era35.1%(297)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War2.8%(24)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II5.7%(48)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 847 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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Morehead City to nearby cities

MOREHEAD CITY VS
Havelock
Income$58,408+30%
Home value$207,700−19%
Population17,430+67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MOREHEAD CITY VS
New Bern
Income$61,031+36%
Home value$240,100−6%
Population34,724+233%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MOREHEAD CITY VS
Piney Green
Income$72,177+61%
Home value$227,600−11%
Population14,078+35%
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MOREHEAD CITY VS
Jacksonville
Income$57,697+29%
Home value$210,100−18%
Population72,732+597%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Morehead City, North Carolina?

Morehead City, North Carolina has about 9,556 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Morehead City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Morehead City, North Carolina earns about $44,802 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Morehead City, North Carolina expensive?

In Morehead City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $255,700, and the typical rent is about $924 a month.

How educated are people in Morehead City, North Carolina?

About 33.3% of adults age 25 and over in Morehead City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Morehead City, North Carolina?

About 13.0% of people in Morehead City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Morehead City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Morehead City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,510 residents, a change of about 58 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 →