Morehead City, NC Demographics

A map of Morehead City's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	7,585	7,492	77.4%	78.4%
Hispanic	926	741	9.4%	7.8%
Multiracial	614	390	6.3%	4.1%
Black	527	738	5.4%	7.7%
Asian	103	123	1.1%	1.3%
Native American/Other	51	72	0.5%	0.8%

Morehead City, North Carolina has an estimated population of 9,806, a slight increase from the 9,556 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 77.4% White, 9.4% Hispanic, 6.3% Multiracial, 5.4% Black, 1.1% Asian, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Morehead City, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Morehead City has become more 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 Morehead City, that probability was 37.1% in 2020 and 38.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Morehead City is ranked the 98th 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). Morehead City was ranked the 98th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Morehead City's White Population

7,585 residents of Morehead City, or 77.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Morehead City is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Morehead City ranks 291st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Morehead City's White population has grown by an estimated 1.2%. White residents' share of Morehead City's population has decreased from 78.4% to 77.4%.

Morehead City is more White than neighboring Newport (71.5% White). Morehead City is less White than neighboring Atlantic Beach (86.9% White), Beaufort (82.4% White), Pine Knoll Shores (97.8% White), and Brandywine Bay (89.3% White).

Morehead City's Black Population

527 residents of Morehead City, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Morehead City is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Morehead City ranks 465th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Morehead City's Black population has declined by an estimated 28.6%. Black residents' share of Morehead City's population has decreased from 7.7% to 5.4%.

Morehead City is more Black than neighboring Atlantic Beach (0% Black), Pine Knoll Shores (0.1% Black), and Brandywine Bay (0% Black). Morehead City is less Black than neighboring Beaufort (9.8% Black), and Newport (11.9% Black).

Morehead City's Asian Population

103 residents of Morehead City, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Morehead City is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Morehead City ranks 197th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Morehead City's Asian population has declined by an estimated 16.3%. Asian residents' share of Morehead City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Morehead City is more Asian than neighboring Atlantic Beach (0.3% Asian), Beaufort (0% Asian), and Pine Knoll Shores (0% Asian). Morehead City is less Asian than neighboring Brandywine Bay (2.1% Asian), and Newport (2.4% Asian).

Morehead City's Hispanic Population

926 residents of Morehead City, or 9.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Morehead City is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Morehead City ranks 292nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Morehead City's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 25.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Morehead City's population has increased from 7.8% to 9.4%.

Morehead City is more Hispanic than neighboring Atlantic Beach (6.9% Hispanic), Beaufort (1.6% Hispanic), Pine Knoll Shores (1.6% Hispanic), Brandywine Bay (0% Hispanic), and Newport (8.3% Hispanic).

Morehead City's Native American/Other Population

51 residents of Morehead City, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Morehead City is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Morehead City ranks 393rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Morehead City's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 29.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Morehead City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Morehead City is more Native American/Other than neighboring Atlantic Beach (0% Native American/Other), Pine Knoll Shores (0% Native American/Other), Brandywine Bay (0% Native American/Other), and Newport (0% Native American/Other). Morehead City is less Native American/Other than neighboring Beaufort (2.4% Native American/Other).

Morehead City's Multiracial Population

614 residents of Morehead City, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Morehead City is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Morehead City ranks 304th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Morehead City's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 57.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Morehead City's population has increased from 4.1% to 6.3%.

Morehead City is more Multiracial than neighboring Atlantic Beach (5.9% Multiracial), Beaufort (3.8% Multiracial), Pine Knoll Shores (0.5% Multiracial), and Newport (5.9% Multiracial). Morehead City is less Multiracial than neighboring Brandywine Bay (8.7% 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.