Population 14,674 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Morehead City
Household size in Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.11 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.96 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Morehead City is a place of small households, averaging 1.96 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.11 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people has smaller households.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.6, Morehead City 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 45.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.9% of households in Morehead City, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 32 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Morehead City
Renters in Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.8% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Morehead City is about as common as it is nationally: 37.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in North Carolina overall (33.4%). More than four in ten owners (45.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Morehead City: 15.1% of homes are empty, 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.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Morehead City is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $778 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $925 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,075 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,261 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$483 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Morehead City costs $1,261 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $483 a month from 2006–10, a 62% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 30.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Morehead City
Bachelor's degrees in Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.5% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.5 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Morehead City than nationally: 41.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 13.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the center.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.2% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Morehead City is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Morehead City has a higher share of high school graduates than most North Carolina cities.
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 Morehead City
| Period | Morehead City | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Morehead City has been low: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Morehead City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead City | 1.96 | 48.6 | 5.9% | 37.1% | 15.1% | 1986 | $1,261 | 41.5% | 92.7% | 3.0% |
| Mansfield | 2.17 | 34.3 | 2.2% | 68.1% | 6.1% | 1983 | $1,093 | 25.1% | 95.9% | 0.6% |
| Atlantic Beach | 1.86 | 56.9 | 3.5% | 37.7% | 82.3% | 1984 | $1,231 | 62.0% | 99.3% | 2.8% |
| Mill Creek | 2.28 | 50.3 | 3.8% | 5.9% | 6.6% | 1994 | $1,013 | 27.2% | 93.4% | 4.1% |
| Pine Knoll Shores | 2.00 | 64.2 | 0.7% | 1.8% | 68.3% | 1984 | $1,750 | 65.5% | 99.3% | 3.8% |
| Beaufort | 1.94 | 53.2 | 7.7% | 29.2% | 22.6% | 1986 | $922 | 32.9% | 92.9% | 3.4% |
| Newport | 2.36 | 44.8 | 6.6% | 23.5% | 16.7% | 1995 | $1,099 | 26.0% | 93.4% | 4.8% |
| Indian Beach | 2.00 | 58.0 | 4.7% | 7.2% | 87.9% | 1988 | $1,719 | 46.1% | 98.2% | 13.1% |
| Salter Path | 2.02 | 57.3 | 5.1% | 6.6% | 89.8% | 1988 | $1,781 | 43.9% | 97.9% | 14.9% |
| Bettie | 2.05 | 59.1 | 3.3% | 12.4% | 13.2% | 1993 | $766 | 20.1% | 86.0% | 4.4% |
| Harlowe | 2.40 | 49.8 | 5.9% | 10.7% | 20.8% | 1994 | $1,094 | 25.6% | 86.4% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kenmore, NY · Shawano, WI · Sharonville, OH · Seven Oaks, SC · Seven Corners, VA · Kingston, MA · Killen, AL · Key Largo, FL · Key Biscayne, FL · Kewanee, IL
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 Morehead City. 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.
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