The Town FilesMorehead City, North Carolina
Town in Carteret County · population 9,556 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $357,400
- Household income
- $56,233
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 44.2
Morehead City is a town of 9,556 people in Carteret County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $357,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 93% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 89% of North Carolina towns.
How Morehead City 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 Morehead City is worth $357,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $56,233, which is more affordable than 5% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,134 a month. 46.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Morehead City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $357,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,134 | $969 |
| Median household income | $56,233 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.4% | — |
Who lives in Morehead City
| People | Morehead City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Morehead City
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 36.2°F. About 61.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 36 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morehead City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 26, 2013 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 23, 2015.
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 Morehead City itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Morehead City
5 public schools with 2,406 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Carteret High | 9-12 | 1,097 | 15.9 |
| Morehead City Middle | 6-8 | 524 | 15.4 |
| Morehead City Primary | PK-3 | 517 | 10.8 |
| Morehead Elem at Camp Glenn | 4-5 | 255 | 12.8 |
| Bridges School | 6-12 | 13 | 3.3 |
Towns near Morehead City
- Beaufort, NC5.0 mi · 4,464 people · home $354,900
- Newport, NC8.5 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Havelock, NC15.5 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- Emerald Isle, NC17.2 mi · 3,847 people · home $603,700
- Swansboro, NC22.6 mi · 3,744 people · home $378,700
- James City, NC26.4 mi · 5,291 people · home $204,400
- Fairfield Harbour, NC26.7 mi · 2,767 people · home $300,600
- Brices Creek, NC28.9 mi · 3,542 people · home $338,700
Morehead City questions
Is Morehead City, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Morehead City scores better for retirees than 66% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 43%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Morehead City?
The median owner-occupied home in Morehead City is valued at $357,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,233, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,134 a month.
What is the weather like in Morehead City?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 36.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Morehead City get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Morehead City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 26, 2013. 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)