Cost of Living in Carteret County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Carteret County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Carteret County ranks #2,444 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 22%)
Sourced county brief
Official Rent Burden in Carteret County Exceeds State Mean
The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in Carteret County was estimated at 35.5%. This official B25071 metric is 6.6 percentage points higher than the North Carolina unweighted county mean of 28.9%. Median gross rent in the county was $1,108, which is $131 above the state unweighted mean of $977. Renter-household median income was recorded at $38,857. In the owner-occupied sector, the median home value was $333,300, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $235,312. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,119, which is $192 above the state unweighted mean of $927. The rent-to-income percentage described is the canonical GRAPI and not a derived estimate. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Carteret County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.5% of renter household income in Carteret County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,108 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,119. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $44,320 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Carteret County's $1,108 median is 13.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Carteret County
Rent Burden
18.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,688
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.6%
of gross income
The median home in Carteret County may be a stretch
Median home value is $333,300. Estimated monthly cost: $2,661 vs. your max of $1,688.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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