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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Carteret County

North Carolina · 67,686 residents · 508 sq mi
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The short version

Carteret County is home to 67,686 people in North Carolina. The median age is 50.6, about 12 years above the US median. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock. 3% of residents were born outside the United States. Growth has run 14% since 2000, or 8,303 more people. About 29% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 50.6
US median: 38.8
Average education
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
67,686
+14%since 2000
from 59,383 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
50.6
+20%since 2000
from 42.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
508 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
51K56K61K66K71K19902000201020202024Carteret County
202469K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 53.7%(2,521)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(3,177)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.3%(3,584)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.1%(3,470)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(2,814)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.5%(6,415)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.9%(7,382)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.6%(8,559)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.5%(11,862)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7416.4%(11,067)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.7%(5,212)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(1,623)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,871
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,344 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,038
+60%since 2000
from $21,260 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.2%
+11.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade6.1%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$226,700
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$921
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $511 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
73.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.6% in 2000
26.1% rent
Persons per household
2.27 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.28 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
3.9
−7%since 2009
from 4.2 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-Hispanic89.3%(53,041)
Black6.9%(4,121)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(1,035)
Asian0.5%(307)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85%(57,538)
Black4.7%(3,208)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(3,119)
Asian0.9%(584)
Other3.4%(2,311)
Segregation Score
28
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
Mexican2.4%(1,634)
Puerto Rican0.9%(611)
Salvadoran0.3%(182)
Spaniard0.2%(138)
Guatemalan0.1%(86)
Argentine0.1%(74)
Cuban0.1%(72)
Colombian0.1%(47)
Peruvian0.1%(40)
Honduran0%(16)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(201)
Vietnamese0.3%(182)
Filipino0.2%(152)
Chinese0.1%(89)
Japanese0.1%(85)
Korean0.1%(49)
Thai0%(19)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English21.4%(14,862)
Irish13.5%(9,348)
German12.4%(8,571)
American11.1%(7,715)
Italian5%(3,461)
Scottish3.3%(2,319)
Scotch-Irish3.1%(2,169)
Polish2.9%(1,983)
French2.6%(1,791)
Dutch1.7%(1,204)
British0.9%(621)
Welsh0.8%(550)
+ 31 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.8%(540)
Norwegian0.7%(518)
Portuguese0.4%(297)
Russian0.3%(210)
Hungarian0.3%(194)
Greek0.3%(180)
Czech0.2%(156)
Ukrainian0.2%(149)
Slovak0.2%(136)
Danish0.2%(125)
Lithuanian0.2%(116)
Finnish0.2%(108)
Swiss0.1%(98)
Austrian0.1%(90)
Canadian0.1%(82)
Lebanese0.1%(80)
West Indian0.1%(58)
Brazilian0.1%(48)
Armenian0.1%(40)
Belgian0%(34)
Romanian0%(31)
Slovene0%(28)
Croatian0%(27)
Latvian0%(21)
Serbian0%(19)
Iranian0%(16)
Arab0%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.1%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 82.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+53%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.2%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.4%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
34.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.1%
−6.0 ptssince 2013
from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
92.8%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
85.9%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25.4%(7,390)
Married59.8%(17,417)
Widowed4.5%(1,318)
Divorced10.3%(3,008)
Women 15+
Never married18.2%(5,567)
Married58.9%(18,063)
Widowed10.9%(3,343)
Divorced12%(3,680)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
10.1%
−6.0 ptssince 2013
from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
48.6%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
20.3%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
27.4%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
13.9%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
5.5%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
71.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
40.0%
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)21.7%(1,705)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)28.3%(2,219)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era44.5%(3,489)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.5%(665)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II1.9%(147)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 7,844 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 Carteret County to nearby counties

CARTERET COUNTY VS
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Home value$216,800−4%
Population12,758−82%
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CARTERET COUNTY VS
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Home value$231,600+2%
Population105,025+49%
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CARTERET COUNTY VS
Hyde County
Income$53,713−7%
Home value$124,000−45%
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CARTERET COUNTY VS
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Income$58,357+1%
Home value$192,700−15%
Population44,670−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carteret County, North Carolina?

Carteret County, North Carolina has about 67,686 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Carteret County, North Carolina earns about $57,871 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carteret County, North Carolina expensive?

In Carteret County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $226,700, and the typical rent is about $921 a month.

How educated are people in Carteret County, North Carolina?

About 28.5% of adults age 25 and over in Carteret County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 9.2% of people in Carteret County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carteret County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Carteret County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,130 residents, a change of about 29 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 →