County profile · North Carolina
Carteret County, NC market data
How Carteret County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 70,469
- +4.1% since 2020
- Households
- 31,977
- Median household income
- $72,322
- +26.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $333,300
- Jobs located here
- 23,748
- Highest market score
- 83
- Insurance agencies, #159 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Carteret County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Carteret County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Carteret County has an estimated 70,469 people and 31,977 households. Population estimates put the population change in Carteret County from 2020 to 2025 at +4.1%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Carteret County is $72,322, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Carteret County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (74).
Of the business types scored in Carteret County, insurance agencies (83), funeral homes (78) and collision repair and body shops (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #159 of 2,272 scored counties.
Carteret County is part of the Morehead City area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for landscaping and lawn care companies (96% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for insurance agencies (44% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Carteret County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Carteret County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 83 | #159 of 2,272 | 28 | 8.8 | $2.9M | 232 | 20 |
| Funeral homes | 78 | #93 of 1,472 | 7 | 2.2 | $763K | 112 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 72 | #172 of 1,327 | 7 | 2.2 | $4.3M | 139 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 72 | #189 of 1,461 | 13 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 86 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 68 | #253 of 1,490 | 9 | 2.8 | $3.9M | 164 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 64 | #564 of 2,378 | 54 | 16.9 | $554K | 125 | 30 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #527 of 1,611 | 17 | 5.3 | $854K | 85 | 15 |
| Barbershops | 60 | #452 of 1,356 | 12 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 126 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 60 | #777 of 2,261 | 37 | 11.6 | $5.2M | 66 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 58 | #844 of 2,358 | 47 | 14.7 | $2M | 85 | 40 |
| Auto repair and car care | 56 | #930 of 2,401 | 104 | 32.5 | $288K | 107 | 47 |
| Roofing and gutters | 54 | #514 of 1,177 | 14 | 4.4 | $6.6M | 78 | 6 |
| Pizza | 50 | #1,031 of 2,090 | 31 | 9.7 | $3.9M | 76 | 66 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 49 | #1,265 of 2,402 | 89 | 27.8 | $2.2M | 64 | 22 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 48 | #431 of 777 | 8 | 2.5 | $2.9M | 72 | 7 |
| Gyms | 48 | #1,009 of 1,792 | 28 | 8.8 | $833K | 64 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 47 | #1,125 of 2,070 | 30 | 9.4 | $6.4M | 69 | 15 |
| Car washes and detailing | 46 | #823 of 1,451 | 13 | 4.1 | $2.3M | 91 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | 45 | #852 of 1,422 | 17 | 5.3 | $2.1M | 87 | 13 |
| Pet businesses | 45 | #1,339 of 2,200 | 49 | 15.3 | $583K | 66 | 25 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 44 | #544 of 887 | 12 | 3.8 | Index only | 103 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 44 | #816 of 1,302 | 12 | 3.8 | $2.9M | 94 | 8 |
| Pest control | 43 | #440 of 699 | 6 | 1.9 | $7.8M | 77 | 10 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 43 | #1,417 of 2,222 | 55 | 17.2 | $2.2M | 71 | 66 |
| Hair salons | 43 | #1,523 of 2,339 | 76 | 23.8 | $375K | 87 | 19 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 42 | #900 of 1,334 | 17 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 68 | 7 |
| Veterinarians | 42 | #941 of 1,485 | 16 | 5.0 | $1.8M | 66 | 16 |
| Tire shops | 42 | #982 of 1,530 | 17 | 5.3 | $1.8M | 70 | 7 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 41 | #1,629 of 2,394 | 203 | 63.5 | $174K | 114 | 113 |
| House cleaning | 40 | #604 of 847 | 11 | 3.4 | $4.3M | 67 | 24 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 40 | #1,152 of 1,656 | 25 | 7.8 | $1.4M | 79 | 53 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 40 | #1,210 of 1,707 | 27 | 8.4 | $3.4M | 71 | 46 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 40 | #1,413 of 2,087 | 64 | 20.0 | $940K | 74 | 28 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 40 | #1,501 of 2,088 | 53 | 16.6 | $440K | 66 | 14 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #1,527 of 2,210 | 86 | 26.9 | $699K | 79 | 31 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 38 | #1,081 of 1,493 | 30 | 9.4 | $1.6M | 54 | 48 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 38 | #1,369 of 1,886 | 38 | 11.9 | $931K | 95 | 28 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 38 | #1,829 of 2,385 | 162 | 50.7 | $176K | 83 | 30 |
| Electricians | 37 | #881 of 1,160 | 14 | 4.4 | $6.6M | 55 | 32 |
| Home repair trades | 37 | #1,632 of 2,057 | 55 | 17.2 | $1.7M | 69 | 84 |
| Property management | 36 | #684 of 910 | 12 | 3.8 | Index only | 72 | 23 |
| Pet stores | 36 | #695 of 974 | 10 | 3.1 | $2.9M | 63 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 36 | #1,396 of 1,771 | 47 | 14.7 | $1M | 60 | 82 |
| Nail salons | 35 | #1,054 of 1,328 | 25 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 35 | #1,591 of 2,063 | 47 | 14.7 | $2.5M | 69 | 29 |
| Spas and skin care | 34 | #1,448 of 1,769 | 44 | 13.8 | $647K | 74 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 33 | #1,548 of 1,889 | 46 | 14.4 | $2.6M | 63 | 29 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 32 | #1,983 of 2,405 | 244 | 76.3 | $491K | 74 | 121 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 31 | #1,997 of 2,405 | 465 | 145.4 | $258K | 69 | 217 |
| Real estate | 30 | #2,082 of 2,229 | 218 | 68.2 | Index only | 51 | 111 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 29 | #2,068 of 2,176 | 190 | 59.4 | Index only | 46 | 67 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $15M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | Index only | 46 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $20M | 160 | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $15M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
Household spending in Carteret County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $29.9M | $935 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $95.5M | $2,988 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $119.7M | $3,745 | 92 |
| Groceries | $191.6M | $5,993 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $28.5M | $890 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $14.5M | $454 | 78 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $23.3M | $729 | 74 |
| Medical and dental services | $35.4M | $1,106 | 86 |
| Pets | $28.6M | $894 | 98 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $60.1M | $1,880 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $81.6M | $2,550 | 130 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $91.8M | $2,870 | 95 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $47.1M | $1,473 | 104 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $481.4M | $15,054 | 90 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Carteret County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 70,469+4.1% since 2020
- Households
- 31,977
- Median age
- 49.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 508 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 136
- Median household income
- $72,322+26.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $99,351
- Median home value
- $333,300
- Jobs located here
- 23,748
- Daytime population
- 65,592Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Carteret County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Carteret County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
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- Craven County, NC102,612 people
- Onslow County, NC207,906 people
- Jones County, NC9,302 people
- Beaufort County, NC44,499 people
- Lenoir County, NC54,919 people
- Hyde County, NC4,592 people
- Pender County, NC65,550 people
Questions
How fast is Carteret County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Carteret County at 70,469 people in 2025, up 4.1% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 31,977 households. Median household income rose 26.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Carteret County, NC spend?
Households in Carteret County spend about $481.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $191.6M on groceries and $119.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Carteret County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (74).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Carteret County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Carteret County are for insurance agencies (83), funeral homes (78) and collision repair and body shops (72). Carteret County ranks #159 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
How does Carteret County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Carteret County is $72,322 a year, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $333,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Carteret County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for landscaping and lawn care companies (96% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for insurance agencies (44% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 51 of the 56 business types have a score in Carteret County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Carteret County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Carteret County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Carteret County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.