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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Morehead City Micro

Morehead City, NC · 1 counties · 70,469 residents (2025 est.) · 507.604 sq mi
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#29Oldest by median ageof 92550.5
The short version

Morehead City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,322. Population has grown 16% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $333,300. With a median age of 50.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
69,148
+16%since 2000
from 59,383 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
136 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 117 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
50.5
+19%since 2000
from 42.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:70,469 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
51K56K61K66K71K1990201020202024Morehead City
202469K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,322
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,344 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,736
+115%since 2000
from $21,260 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.8%
+21.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.472
+9%since 2010
from 0.433 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$333,300
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $106,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,108
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $511 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.6% in 2000
25.3% rent
Vacancy rate
38.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 40.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.6
+66%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
65
RELATED:See current rent listings in Morehead City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(53,041)
Black6.9%(4,121)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(1,035)
Asian0.5%(307)
Other0%
Diversity Score21.6%(12,822)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.3%(58,952)
Black4.1%(2,841)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(3,401)
Asian1%(692)
Other4.7%(3,262)
Diversity Score33.3%(23,055)
Segregation Score28.5%(19,739)
Diversity Score
33
+54%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
+3%since 2020
from 28 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.2 min
+48%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.4%
−7.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.6%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.1%
−19.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.0%
−35.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2012
from 18.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.1%
−75.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.4%
+14.0 ptssince 2017
from 79.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.5%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 3.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Morehead CityCENTRAL10,434
What's inside

1 component county

Carteret CountyCENTRAL70,469
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Morehead City

Greenfield
Pop 70,698
Lewiston
Pop 65,450
Findlay
Pop 75,034
Casper
Pop 80,526
Places similar to Morehead City
Head to head

Compare Morehead City side by side

MOREHEAD CITY VS
Greenfield
Income$74,907+4%
Home value$329,000−1%
Population70,698same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MOREHEAD CITY VS
Lewiston
Income$72,490same
Home value$331,563−1%
Population65,450−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MOREHEAD CITY VS
Findlay
Income$73,141+1%
Home value$204,700−39%
Population75,034+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MOREHEAD CITY VS
Casper
Income$72,156same
Home value$273,000−18%
Population80,526+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Morehead City, NC?

Morehead City, NC has about 69,148 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Morehead City, NC?

The typical household in Morehead City, NC earns about $72,322 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Morehead City, NC expensive?

In Morehead City, NC, the median home is worth about $333,300, and the typical rent is about $1,108 a month.

How educated are people in Morehead City, NC?

About 34.5% of adults age 25 and over in Morehead City, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Morehead City, NC?

About 10.1% of people in Morehead City, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Morehead City, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Morehead City, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,592 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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