Beaufort, NC Demographics

A map of Beaufort's Population by Race

Beaufort, North Carolina has an estimated population of 4,689, an increase from the 4,464 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 82.4% White, 9.8% Black, 3.8% Multiracial, 2.4% Native American/Other, 1.6% Hispanic, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Beaufort, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Beaufort has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Beaufort, that probability was 33.2% in 2020 and 30.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Beaufort is ranked the 180th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Beaufort was ranked the 184th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Beaufort's White Population

3,864 residents of Beaufort, or 82.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Beaufort is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Beaufort ranks 252nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort's White population has grown by an estimated 7.1%. White residents' share of Beaufort's population has increased from 80.8% to 82.4%.

Beaufort is more White than neighboring Morehead City (77.4% White). Beaufort is less White than neighboring Atlantic Beach (86.9% White), Harkers Island (92.4% White), Gloucester (92.2% White), and Marshallberg (100% White).

Beaufort's Black Population

459 residents of Beaufort, or 9.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Beaufort is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Beaufort ranks 398th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort's Black population has declined by an estimated 8.0%. Black residents' share of Beaufort's population has decreased from 11.2% to 9.8%.

Beaufort is more Black than neighboring Morehead City (5.4% Black), Atlantic Beach (0% Black), Harkers Island (2.5% Black), Gloucester (0% Black), and Marshallberg (0% Black).

Beaufort's Asian Population

1 residents of Beaufort, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Beaufort is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Beaufort ranks 271st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort's Asian population has declined by an estimated 97.7%. Asian residents' share of Beaufort's population has decreased from 1.0% to 0.0%.

Beaufort is less Asian than neighboring Morehead City (1.1% Asian), Atlantic Beach (0.3% Asian), and Harkers Island (0.6% Asian).

Beaufort's Hispanic Population

74 residents of Beaufort, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Beaufort is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Beaufort ranks 636th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 38.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Beaufort's population has decreased from 2.7% to 1.6%.

Beaufort is more Hispanic than neighboring Gloucester (0.8% Hispanic), and Marshallberg (0% Hispanic). Beaufort is less Hispanic than neighboring Morehead City (9.4% Hispanic), Atlantic Beach (6.9% Hispanic), and Harkers Island (3.8% Hispanic).

Beaufort's Native American/Other Population

113 residents of Beaufort, or 2.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Beaufort is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Beaufort ranks 510th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 334.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Beaufort's population has increased from 0.6% to 2.4%.

Beaufort is more Native American/Other than neighboring Morehead City (0.5% Native American/Other), Atlantic Beach (0% Native American/Other), Harkers Island (0% Native American/Other), Gloucester (2.1% Native American/Other), and Marshallberg (0% Native American/Other).

Beaufort's Multiracial Population

178 residents of Beaufort, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Beaufort is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Beaufort ranks 384th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 7.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Beaufort's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.8%.

Beaufort is more Multiracial than neighboring Harkers Island (0.8% Multiracial), and Marshallberg (0% Multiracial). Beaufort is less Multiracial than neighboring Morehead City (6.3% Multiracial), Atlantic Beach (5.9% Multiracial), and Gloucester (4.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.