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COUNTY

Beaufort County

North Carolina · 44,670 residents (2025 est.) · 833 sq mi
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The short version

With 44,499 people, Beaufort County is a county in North Carolina. The median age is 47.7, about 9 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. The typical home is worth $192,700, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 4%. Renters pay $871 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
44,499
−1%since 2000
from 44,958 in 2000
44,670 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
53 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 55 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.7
+19%since 2000
from 40.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
833 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
42K43K45K47K48K19902000201020202024Beaufort County
202444K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.8%(2,121)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(2,449)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(2,311)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(2,432)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(2,418)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.7%(4,336)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411%(4,885)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(5,309)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.3%(6,826)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.4%(6,855)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.8%(3,457)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(1,100)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,357
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,066 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,495
+106%since 2000
from $16,722 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.9%
+17.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$192,700
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$871
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $405 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.0% in 2000
30.5% rent
Vacancy rate
21.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.27 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.36 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
21.3%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 37.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+32%since 2009
from 2.5 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.
Gentrification Score
33
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic66.8%(30,051)
Black29%(13,021)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,455)
Asian0.2%(98)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.3%(29,481)
Black22.8%(10,131)
Hispanic / Latino7.9%(3,513)
Asian0.2%(93)
Other2.9%(1,281)
Diversity Score
63
+7%since 2009
from 58 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
32
+17%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.5%(2,911)
Puerto Rican0.5%(220)
Salvadoran0.2%(71)
Colombian0.1%(56)
Cuban0%(3)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(66)
Filipino0.1%(25)
Korean0%(19)
Chinese0%(4)
Hmong0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(23)
Ancestry
English14.1%(6,276)
Irish8.5%(3,761)
American6.7%(2,983)
German6.3%(2,822)
Scottish1.6%(702)
Italian1.1%(486)
French0.9%(404)
Polish0.6%(277)
Dutch0.5%(208)
Norwegian0.4%(156)
British0.3%(155)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.3%(140)
Welsh0.2%(84)
Swedish0.2%(83)
Czech0.2%(79)
West Indian0.2%(69)
Portuguese0.1%(58)
Hungarian0.1%(45)
Nigerian0.1%(42)
Canadian0.1%(28)
Slovak0.1%(28)
Swiss0%(20)
Austrian0%(19)
Greek0%(19)
Arab0%(15)
Lebanese0%(15)
Croatian0%(15)
Serbian0%(12)
Belgian0%(11)
Haitian0%(8)
Danish0%(7)
Slovene0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.2%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.3%
+14.2 ptssince 2000
from 75.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+41%since 2000
from 17.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−7.9 ptssince 2011
from 11.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 58.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 68.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
16.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.9%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 18.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−8.9 ptssince 2013
from 17.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.5%
+26.7 ptssince 2017
from 60.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
89.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2020
from 85.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
94.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 94.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
93.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 93.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.4%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 5.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.3%(5,235)
Married58.6%(10,461)
Widowed3.1%(555)
Divorced9%(1,614)
Women 15+
Never married26.7%(5,274)
Married50.1%(9,895)
Widowed12.3%(2,430)
Divorced10.9%(2,154)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.0%
−8.9 ptssince 2013
from 17.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
37.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 37.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
23.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 24.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
27.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 26.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
25.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 3.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
60.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 61.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
48.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 45.2% 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)16.9%(567)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.2%(680)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era41.6%(1,399)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.8%(94)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.8%(28)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 3,361 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 Beaufort County to nearby counties

BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Pamlico County
Income$59,717+2%
Home value$216,800+13%
Population12,758−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Craven County
Income$65,873+13%
Home value$231,600+20%
Population105,025+135%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$41,813−28%
Home value$125,900−35%
Population10,638−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Martin County
Income$48,578−17%
Home value$109,700−43%
Population21,601−52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Beaufort County, North Carolina?

Beaufort County, North Carolina has about 44,499 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Beaufort County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Beaufort County, North Carolina earns about $58,357 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Beaufort County, North Carolina expensive?

In Beaufort County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $192,700, and the typical rent is about $871 a month.

How educated are people in Beaufort County, North Carolina?

About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Beaufort County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Beaufort County, North Carolina?

About 17.8% of people in Beaufort County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Beaufort County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Beaufort County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,216 residents, a change of about 5 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 →

Beaufort County, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy