Demographics and Statistics

In the 5.10 square miles of Morehead City is packed a variety of rental and owner occupied homes, tourist accommodations, an active business community, and organized recreational opportunities such as Little League, Soccer League, paddling, cycling, and watersports.

Median age is 41 years with a median income of $35,000 annually in 2013. Twenty-one of the population holds graduate or post-graduate degrees and 55 percent of the homes are owner occupied. Eighty-two percent of Morehead City's population is Caucasian, and 10% is African American. During the tourist high season the numbers are vastly larger. Morehead City’s unemployment figures are lower than the state average.

With a year round population in 2014 of 68,811, Carteret County has few large towns and lots of small ones, exactly reflecting local preferences. The year round population of the county's communities follows:

Atlantic Beach 1,506
Beaufort 4,195
Bogue 701
Cape Carteret 2,058
Cedar Point 1,305
Emerald Isle 3,717
Indian Beach 116
Morehead City 9,258
Newport 4,694
Peletier 654
Pine Knoll Shores 1,366
Swansboro (neighboring Onslow County) 3,074

In the 2.14 square miles of Atlantic Beach is packed a variety of rental and owner occupied homes, tourist accommodations, an active business community.

Median age is 50 years with a median income of $48,000 annually. Ninety percent of the population holds graduate or post-graduate degrees and 65 percent of the homes are owner occupied. Ninety three percent of Atlantic Beach population is Caucasian. During the tourist high season the numbers are vastly larger. Atlantic Beach unemployment figures are lower than the state average.