ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28557

Part of Morehead City, NC

Pop. 15,253·Carteret County·57th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,858/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

-$74

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28557 · $1,858

More expensive than 53% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$960

1 BR

$970

2 BR

$1,270

3 BR

$1,630

4 BR+

$2,080

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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28557 changed +3.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($68,528) is $1,713 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,630); a 4-bedroom is $2,080.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28557. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,296/yr

At $1,858/mo median

Location

CityMorehead City

StateNC

CountyCarteret County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.6% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28557 (Morehead City, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 41.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

15,253

Median income

$68,528

Median age

48.8

Renters

37.5%

Age distribution

17%

18.5%

22.8%

13.5%

28.1%

Under 1817%

18–3418.5%

35–5422.8%

55–6413.5%

65+28.1%

Gender

47.8%

52.2%

Male47.8%

Female52.2%

Race & ethnicity

83.2%

White83.2%

Black4.6%

Hispanic6.3%

Asian1.3%

Other4.6%

Education (25+)

19.5%

32.2%

41.6%

No HS diploma6.7%

HS diploma19.5%

Some college32.2%

Bachelor's+41.6%

Housing tenure

62.5%

37.5%

Owner62.5%

Renter37.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28557 in Morehead City, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$60,657 → $68,528

up 13.0%

Population

14,880 → 15,253

up 2.5%

Renter share

36.9% → 37.5%

+0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

38.2% → 41.6%

+3.4 pts

Median household income grew from $60,657 to $68,528 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.0% shift. Headcount in the area went from 14,880 to 15,253 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 38.2% to 41.6%.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 28557

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 28557

About renting in ZIP 28557

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28557 covers Morehead City, NC. The median rent here is $1,858/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $970/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,270/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($68,528/yr), ZIP 28557 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28557?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $74,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,858/mo in ZIP 28557. The local median household income is $68,528/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28557?

Rent in ZIP 28557 has risen 3.6% over the past year.

How does ZIP 28557 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28557 is one of the pricier among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #57 of 230 at $1,858/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28557 changed +3.6%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.