North Carolina · GEOID 37031

Carteret County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 69,148 · 52,181 housing units

Median household income

$72,322

State $74,272

Median home value

$333,300

State $299,282

Median gross rent

$1,108

State $1,245

Homeownership rate

74.7%

State 66.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

57.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

21.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

2.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

38.7%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.61

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Carteret County	North Carolina
Population	69,148	10,730,404
Population density (per sq. mi.)	136.22	—
Median household income	$72,322	$74,272
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$103,500	—
Households	31,977	—
Average household size	2.13 people	—
Owner-occupied	74.7%	66.6%
Renter-occupied	25.3%	33.4%
Race	86.0% White · 4.2% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Carteret County compared with North Carolina.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

34.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.7%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	23.7%	$73,536	$1,838	$242,706
1 earner	31.0%	$74,614	$1,865	$246,719
2 earners	37.7%	$114,953	$2,874	$396,875
3+ earners	7.6%	$143,446	$3,586	$502,935

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

31,977

Average size: 2.13 people

Households with children

6,378

19.9% of households

Per-capita income

$45,736

Poverty rate: 10.7%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

74.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 64.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 11.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

27.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,989.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $333,300.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,108.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 20,204 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 1.5% · For rent 0.8% · Seasonal 87.8% · Other 9.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

2.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 97.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

34.0%

17,744 units of 52,181 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.6%

1,888 units of 52,181 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$57,858

100% MHI$72,322

120% MHI$86,786

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Carteret County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$58,000	$66,250	$82,800
100% AMI	$72,450	$82,800	$103,500
120% AMI	$86,950	$99,350	$124,200

HUD FMR Area: Carteret County, NC. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

57.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (21.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

21.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Carteret County.

Covered employment

24,943

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

2,703

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$45,715

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	4,617	$25,244	$62,947	−$270,353	$631
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	4,380	$33,976	$95,451	−$237,849	$849
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	3,519	$59,651	$191,022	−$142,278	$1,491
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	2,122	$54,912	$173,382	−$159,918	$1,373
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	1,627	$52,217	$163,350	−$169,950	$1,305
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,568	$52,663	$165,010	−$168,290	$1,317
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,224	$39,724	$116,847	−$216,453	$993
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	966	$82,374	$275,604	−$57,696	$2,059
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	930	$36,019	$103,055	−$230,245	$900
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	907	$34,951	$99,080	−$234,220	$874
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	883	$50,012	$155,142	−$178,158	$1,250
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	692	$52,722	$165,230	−$168,070	$1,318
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	447	$88,491	$298,374	−$34,926	$2,212
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	374	$52,285	$163,603	−$169,697	$1,307
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	360	$67,053	$218,575	−$114,725	$1,676
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	160	$62,171	$200,402	−$132,898	$1,554
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	150	$79,799	$266,019	−$67,281	$1,995
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	11	$102,418	$350,215	+$16,915	$2,560
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	6	$102,098	$349,024	+$15,724	$2,552

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	3,995	$24,526	$60,275	−$273,025	$613
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	1,615	$71,135	$233,769	−$99,531	$1,778
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,568	$52,663	$165,010	−$168,290	$1,317
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,459	$49,083	$151,684	−$181,616	$1,227
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	1,132	$58,215	$185,676	−$147,624	$1,455
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	1,068	$38,645	$112,830	−$220,470	$966
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,007	$51,823	$161,883	−$171,417	$1,296
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	966	$82,374	$275,604	−$57,696	$2,059
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	874	$27,831	$72,577	−$260,723	$696
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	849	$33,577	$93,965	−$239,335	$839
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	756	$28,070	$73,467	−$259,833	$702
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	692	$39,759	$116,977	−$216,323	$994
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	625	$53,390	$167,716	−$165,584	$1,335
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	622	$29,858	$80,122	−$253,178	$746
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	547	$50,217	$155,905	−$177,395	$1,255
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	534	$27,252	$70,422	−$262,878	$681
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	485	$41,862	$124,805	−$208,495	$1,047
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	460	$53,636	$168,632	−$164,668	$1,341
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	345	$71,001	$233,270	−$100,030	$1,775
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	310	$29,385	$78,361	−$254,939	$735
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	298	$38,559	$112,510	−$220,790	$964
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	294	$35,735	$101,998	−$231,302	$893
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	277	$34,901	$98,894	−$234,406	$873
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	246	$26,175	$66,413	−$266,887	$654
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	240	$52,728	$165,252	−$168,048	$1,318
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	236	$65,609	$213,199	−$120,101	$1,640
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	230	$41,840	$124,723	−$208,577	$1,046
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	208	$72,640	$239,371	−$93,929	$1,816
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	192	$44,615	$135,053	−$198,247	$1,115
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	192	$92,267	$312,430	−$20,870	$2,307
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	160	$63,166	$204,106	−$129,194	$1,579
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	160	$50,616	$157,390	−$175,910	$1,265
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	156	$47,115	$144,359	−$188,941	$1,178
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	150	$79,799	$266,019	−$67,281	$1,995
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	128	$66,372	$216,040	−$117,260	$1,659
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	109	$59,518	$190,527	−$142,773	$1,488
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	99	$65,482	$212,727	−$120,573	$1,637
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	76	$47,972	$147,549	−$185,751	$1,199
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	71	$49,126	$151,844	−$181,456	$1,228
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	68	$45,812	$139,508	−$193,792	$1,145
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	61	$30,047	$80,826	−$252,474	$751
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	55	$40,395	$119,344	−$213,956	$1,010
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	48	$104,361	$357,448	+$24,148	$2,609
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	48	$140,228	$490,957	+$157,657	$3,506
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	38	$27,523	$71,430	−$261,870	$688
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	36	$67,816	$221,415	−$111,885	$1,695
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	36	$35,306	$100,401	−$232,899	$883
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	35	$66,325	$215,865	−$117,435	$1,658
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	34	$38,001	$110,433	−$222,867	$950
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	29	$96,752	$329,124	−$4,176	$2,419
NAICS 487 Scenic and sightseeing transportation NAICS 487	18	$34,469	$97,286	−$236,014	$862
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	14	$55,724	$176,404	−$156,896	$1,393
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	12	$37,023	$106,793	−$226,507	$926
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	12	$187,948	$668,587	+$335,287	$4,699
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	11	$102,418	$350,215	+$16,915	$2,560
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	10	$46,231	$141,068	−$192,232	$1,156
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	6	$102,098	$349,024	+$15,724	$2,552
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	5	$47,374	$145,323	−$187,977	$1,184

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	4,850	(6,010)	(55%)	$13.52	$28,110	$73,615	$703
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	8,050	(910)	(10%)	$13.52	$28,110	$73,615	$703
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	850	—	—	$13.74	$28,590	$75,402	$715
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,340	10	0%	$15.51	$32,260	$89,063	$807
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	5,350	1,870	54%	$15.71	$32,680	$90,627	$817
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	7,500	890	13%	$16.16	$33,600	$94,051	$840
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	4,720	(4,540)	(49%)	$17.44	$36,280	$104,027	$907
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,890	(1,080)	(22%)	$19.46	$40,470	$119,624	$1,012
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	1,050	340	48%	$20.14	$41,890	$124,909	$1,047
Tellers SOC 43-3071	410	(650)	(61%)	$20.29	$42,190	$126,026	$1,055
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,960	150	8%	$21.19	$44,070	$133,024	$1,102
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	3,000	(240)	(7%)	$22.72	$47,250	$144,861	$1,181
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	570	(170)	(23%)	$22.73	$47,280	$144,973	$1,182
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	710	330	87%	$24.44	$50,830	$158,187	$1,271
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,410	(1,090)	(31%)	—	$51,540	$160,830	$1,289
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,160	320	8%	$24.86	$51,720	$161,500	$1,293
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	560	(780)	(58%)	$25.28	$52,580	$164,701	$1,315
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,790	300	20%	$26.43	$54,960	$173,560	$1,374
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,100	20	2%	$26.48	$55,070	$173,970	$1,377
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	4,950	410	9%	$40.51	$84,260	$282,625	$2,107

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 37031 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.