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City Report · NC

Morehead City

Pop. 9,806·80th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Morehead City, NC
Median rent (all units)
$1,638/mo
Year-over-Year
+0.5%
Month-over-Month
+0.9%
vs US Median
-$327
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Morehead City · $1,638
More affordable than 66% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
35% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,638/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$66,000/yr
Local median income
$56,233/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Morehead City's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$960
1 BR
$970
2 BR
$1,270
3 BR
$1,650
4 BR+
$2,090
Research median
$1,270/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$19,656/yr
At $1,638/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.5% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Morehead City, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 35.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
9,806
Median income
$56,233
Median age
44.2
Renters
53.3%
Age distribution
17.6%
23.6%
23.2%
12.9%
22.7%
Under 1817.6%
18–3423.6%
35–5423.2%
55–6412.9%
65+22.7%
Gender
46.7%
53.3%
Male46.7%
Female53.3%
Race & ethnicity
78.6%
White78.6%
Black5.4%
Hispanic9.4%
Asian1.1%
Other5.5%
Education (25+)
21.5%
33.1%
35.6%
No HS diploma9.8%
HS diploma21.5%
Some college33.1%
Bachelor's+35.6%
Housing tenure
46.7%
53.3%
Owner46.7%
Renter53.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Morehead City, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$47,058 → $56,233
up 19.5%
Population
9,535 → 9,806
up 2.8%
Renter share
54.7% → 53.3%
-1.4 pts
Bachelor's+
36.1% → 35.6%
-0.5 pts
Median age
45.3 → 44.2
-1.1 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $47,058 in 2021 to $56,233 more recently. The population has grown by 2.8% since 2021, moving from about 9,535 residents to roughly 9,806.

Community

Discussions about Morehead City

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View Morehead City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Morehead City on your salary?

At $1,638/mo, how Morehead City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Morehead City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Morehead City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Morehead City

About renting in Morehead City, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Morehead City is $1,638/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $960/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,270/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,650/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($56,233/yr), Morehead City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Morehead City an affordable city for renters?

Morehead City is considered moderate for renters. At $1,638/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($56,233/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Morehead City slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Morehead City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (~$32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,638/mo in Morehead City. The local median household income is $56,233/yr, meaning the typical Morehead City household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Morehead City?

Rent in Morehead City has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.5% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Morehead City rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Morehead City is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #80 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,638/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Morehead City?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Morehead City ($1,638/mo): Havelock ($1,289/mo), Fairfield Harbour ($1,500/mo).

What percentage of Morehead City residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.3% of Morehead City households are renters, while 46.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Morehead City has a strong rental market.

How does Morehead City rent compare to the national average?

Morehead City's median rent of $1,638/mo is $327 (17%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #80 out of 126 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
35%
MODERATE

At $1,638/mo, rent takes ~35% of Morehead City's median household income ($56,233/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Morehead City 35%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Morehead City affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Morehead City, NC

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