C+

Cedar Island, NC

Source:

Affordability Score: 64/100

Population: 327 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Cedar Island, NC aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 327 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (64/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $80,859, median home value of $265,000, median rent of per month, and 25.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,198 per month (studio $907, 1BR $913, 3BR $1,541, 4BR $1,966). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,339 per year, consuming 13% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Cedar Island, NC include rent. Unemployment currently reads 0.0% and poverty 0.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$80,859
Median household income
Education D
25.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $265,000 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,198/mo
2BR fair market rent (18% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$10,339/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$80,859
▲ 30% vs national
Per Capita Income
$62,949
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Poverty Rate
0.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$265,000
▼ 4% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
100.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,198/mo
▼ 0% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$907
1BR
$913
2BR
$1,198
3BR
$1,541
4BR
$1,966

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
25.7%
▼ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
74.3%
Median Age
58.3
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,339/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,701/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,701/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,747/yr

What This Means

Cedar Island, NC receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 327. This area performs well in rent. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Cedar Island, NC affordable?
Cedar Island, NC receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $80,859. Median home value is $265,000.
What is the cost of living in Cedar Island?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $1,198/mo. Infant childcare $10,339/yr. Median home value $265,000.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →