Beaufort County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Beaufort County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Beaufort County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Beaufort County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,253 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,730 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.3% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.5% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Beaufort County is about 20% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Beaufort County (4.5%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Beaufort County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Beaufort County, North Carolina grew by 46.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,253 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Beaufort County
| Metric | Beaufort County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.526 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,285 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,555 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.1% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Beaufort County, it is 0.526, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Beaufort County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $305,550 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Beaufort County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 28% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,793 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Beaufort County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 803 people are unemployed in Beaufort County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Beaufort County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Beaufort County, North Carolina has fallen from 11.8% to 3.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.9% in 2014.
Beaufort County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Beaufort County, NC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 44,493 residents against a local median of 21,644. Where Beaufort County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 36% below the local median of 6.1% at 3.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 9.1% on unemployment, so Beaufort County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Beaufort County, NC has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County, NC | 44,493 | $58,253 #3/6 | 4.5%/yr #1/6 | 3.9% #2/6 | 0.526 #3/6 |
| Pamlico County, NC | 12,360 | $59,663 | 4.1%/yr | 5.1% | 0.562 |
| Craven County, NC | 102,613 | $65,003 | 3.9%/yr | 3.7% | 0.523 |
| Martin County, NC | 21,644 | $48,856 | 4.3%/yr | 6.1% | 0.507 |
| Washington County, NC | 10,812 | $43,154 | 4.1%/yr | 12.9% | 0.576 |
| Pitt County, NC | 177,193 | $57,898 | 4.0%/yr | 7.7% | 0.558 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Beaufort County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Beaufort County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Beaufort County, North Carolina?
Beaufort County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $58,253, about 20% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Beaufort County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Beaufort County, North Carolina rose 46%, from $39,814 to $58,253. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +46% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Beaufort County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Beaufort County, North Carolina was $56,720, up 4% from $54,676 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Beaufort County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Beaufort County, North Carolina was $47,810. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $58,253.
What is the Gini coefficient in Beaufort County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Beaufort County is 0.526. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Beaufort County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Beaufort County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 28% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,793 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →