With a year round population in 2008 of of 63,807, Carteret County has few large towns and lots of small ones, exactly reflecting local preferences. The year round population of the county's communities follows:
Atlantic Beach 1,799
Beaufort 3,975
Bogue 653
Cape Carteret 1,415
Cedar Point 910
Emerald Isle 3,855
Indian Beach 88
Morehead City 8,691
Newport 3,806
Peletier 538
Pine Knoll Shores 1,601
Into the 5.24 square miles of Emerald Isle is packed a variety of rental and owner occupied homes, an active business community catering to tourist and local needs and organized recreational opportunities such as Little League, paddling, cycling and watersports clubs.
Median age is 46 years with a median income of $53,000 annually. Thirty-nine percent of the population holds graduate or post graduate degrees and 22 percent of the homes are owner occupied. Three quarters of the Emerald Isle population is Caucasian. During the high season, the numbers are vastly larger and because of its visitors. Emerald Isle employment figures compare very favorably indeed with most other North Carolina counties.
