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
median household income $58,357, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Beaufort County
What changed most since 1990
Median age35.7 → 47.7(+12.0 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Black share31.1% → 22.8%(−8.3 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Homes owned by their occupants74.1% → 69.5%(−4.6 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
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
Over time
Beaufort County, decade by decade
Beaufort County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
42,283
$52,173
$124,084
10.8%
54.8
2000
44,958
$56,592
$126,605
16.0%
58.5
2010
47,759
$58,482
$153,927
19.0%
61.3
2020
44,652
$58,240
$167,261
20.7%
63.4
2024
44,499
$58,357
$192,700
21.2%
62.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
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.
