Morehead
RANK #315 / 996 NAT · #16 / 51 NC · POP 68,353
1YR FORECAST: +1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Beaufort, the county seat and one of North Carolina's oldest towns, anchors Carteret County, a coastal region known as the Crystal Coast. Located on North Carolina's central coast, the county boasts over 85 miles of beaches and hundreds of miles of sound and river shorelines. This area offers extensive outdoor recreation, including Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach, the second most visited state park in North Carolina, and the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Commutes within the county are generally quick, with an average of 23.9 minutes, and traffic is lighter than in larger metropolitan areas.
Life in Carteret County blends coastal living with a community atmosphere. Many residents own their homes, and the public school system is highly rated, with Carteret County Schools consistently ranking among the best in North Carolina. The economy is significantly influenced by tourism and recreational pursuits, drawing visitors to its beaches and historic towns like Morehead City and Emerald Isle. The county is also a center for marine sciences, hosting institutions such as the Duke University Marine Laboratory and the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Radio Island Offshore Wind Supply Chain Development
North Carolina State Ports Authority (proposed)
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Workforce Center for Construction Trades and Transportation Technology
Carteret Community College
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, Carteret County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.2%, and median household income stands at $66,965 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NC.
Carteret County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $277,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,009/month on average.
Carteret County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted +1.3% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.29% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Carteret County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.