Population 69,148 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Carteret County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Carteret County
Household size in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Carteret County are small: just 2.17 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.29, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few North Carolina counties have smaller households: only six of 100.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.9 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.1 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.1, Carteret County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.2% of households in Carteret County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few North Carolina counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only four of 100.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carteret County
Renters in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Carteret County own their homes; 25.3% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (43.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.2 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.5% of the housing in Carteret County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Carteret County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. North Carolina as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $806 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $895 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,001 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,183 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$377 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Carteret County runs $1,183 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $377 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carteret County
Bachelor's degrees in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Carteret County as nationally: 34.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Carteret County is above the national rate: 93.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only four have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carteret County
| Period | Carteret County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Carteret County than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.4 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carteret County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County | 2.17 | 49.1 | 6.2% | 25.3% | 24.5% | 1991 | $1,183 | 34.2% | 93.9% | 3.8% |
| Onslow County | 2.56 | 31.2 | 10.4% | 36.3% | 13.5% | 1997 | $1,304 | 24.5% | 93.9% | 5.6% |
| Bladen County | 2.54 | 44.2 | 13.9% | 30.8% | 21.2% | 1984 | $798 | 19.8% | 88.3% | 5.9% |
| Robeson County | 2.66 | 36.8 | 18.6% | 34.2% | 12.2% | 1985 | $816 | 15.1% | 80.3% | 5.8% |
| Scotland County | 2.50 | 39.5 | 18.3% | 38.2% | 12.2% | 1981 | $829 | 16.5% | 82.4% | 10.8% |
| Marlboro County | 2.51 | 41.3 | 14.1% | 37.0% | 19.9% | 1978 | $740 | 9.1% | 78.4% | 10.9% |
| Chesterfield County | 2.51 | 42.3 | 16.1% | 27.2% | 15.7% | 1985 | $801 | 13.7% | 82.1% | 7.2% |
| Lancaster County | 2.62 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 16.7% | 8.8% | 1996 | $1,153 | 34.9% | 90.4% | 4.3% |
| Chester County | 2.48 | 42.6 | 14.7% | 21.6% | 11.2% | 1979 | $962 | 14.0% | 85.1% | 5.8% |
| Union County | 2.34 | 44.5 | 17.0% | 28.7% | 15.0% | 1971 | $821 | 14.7% | 82.0% | 7.2% |
| Greenville County | 2.50 | 39.2 | 10.5% | 31.1% | 8.3% | 1991 | $1,363 | 41.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Klamath County, OR · St. Joseph County, MI · Iberia Parish, LA · Sampson County, NC · San Benito County, CA · Sauk County, WI · Harrison County, WV · Shiawassee County, MI · Hamblen County, TN · Hall County, NE
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carteret County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.