The Town FilesEmerald Isle, North Carolina
Town in Carteret County · population 3,847 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $603,700
- Household income
- $89,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 60.3
Emerald Isle is a town of 3,847 people in Carteret County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $603,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 94% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Emerald Isle ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Emerald Isle is worth $603,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 6.7 times the median household income of $89,773, which is more affordable than 4% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,704 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emerald Isle | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $603,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,704 | $969 |
| Median household income | $89,773 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 68.9% | — |
Who lives in Emerald Isle
| People | Emerald Isle | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 27.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Emerald Isle
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 33.7°F. About 60.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerald Isle since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 5, 2019 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2024.
Severe weather in Carteret County since 1996
Carteret County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Carteret County
Carteret County had 25,022 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,708 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Emerald Isle itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Emerald Isle
- Swansboro, NC6.2 mi · 3,744 people · home $378,700
- Newport, NC11.3 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Piney Green, NC16.8 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
- Morehead City, NC17.2 mi · 9,556 people · home $357,400
- Havelock, NC18.5 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- Jacksonville, NC21.1 mi · 72,723 people · home $210,100
- Sneads Ferry, NC21.1 mi · 2,548 people · home $269,300
- Beaufort, NC22.0 mi · 4,464 people · home $354,900
Emerald Isle questions
Is Emerald Isle, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emerald Isle scores better for retirees than 82% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 87%. 36.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.3).
How much does a house cost in Emerald Isle?
The median owner-occupied home in Emerald Isle is valued at $603,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,773, so homes cost about 6.7 times income. Median rent is $1,704 a month.
What is the weather like in Emerald Isle?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 33.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Emerald Isle get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerald Isle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 5, 2019. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)