Carteret County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Carteret 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.
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C
Carteret County Below averageWealthier than 83% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Carteret County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,708 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,543 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.8% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Carteret County is about 1% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Carteret County (4.5%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Carteret County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Carteret County, North Carolina grew by 52.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,708 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Carteret County
| Metric | Carteret County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.526 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,726 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,590 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.5% | 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 Carteret 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 23% more than women's income in Carteret County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $424,760 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Carteret County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 29% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $212 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Carteret County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.6% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,284 people are unemployed in Carteret County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Carteret County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Carteret County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.1% to 4.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2014.
Carteret County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Carteret County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 69,145 residents against a local median of 12,360. Where Carteret County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 20% above the local median of $59,628 at $71,708. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $12,060 on median household income, so Carteret County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Carteret County, NC has the highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County, NC | 69,145 | $71,708 #1/6 | 4.5%/yr #4/6 | 4.0% #4/6 | 0.526 #4/6 |
| 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 |
| Hyde County, NC | 4,592 | $52,943 | 4.6%/yr | 2.5% | 0.589 |
| Beaufort County, NC | 44,493 | $58,253 | 4.5%/yr | 3.9% | 0.526 |
| Jones County, NC | 9,300 | $59,628 | 7.4%/yr | 4.3% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Carteret County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Carteret County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Carteret County, North Carolina?
Carteret County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $71,708, about 1% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Carteret County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Carteret County, North Carolina rose 52%, from $47,165 to $71,708. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +52% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Carteret County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Carteret County, North Carolina was $69,711, up 5% from $66,705 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Carteret County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Carteret County, North Carolina was $57,921. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $71,708.
What is the Gini coefficient in Carteret County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Carteret 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 Carteret County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Carteret County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 29% to 18% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $212 since 2009.
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