Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28557: Morehead City, NC
ZIP code 28557 uses the postal name Morehead City, North Carolina and lies entirely in Carteret County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 15,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $68,528 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Morehead City (47%) and Brandywine Bay (6%); 47% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Morehead City · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Carteret County
- Census places
- Morehead City (47%); Brandywine Bay (6%) census-designated place
- Neighborhoods
- Bonham Heights, Country Club East, Hedrick Estates, Joslyn Trace, Keeter Park, Lake and Shores Estates and 9 more GeoNames
- Micro area
- Morehead City, NC
- House district
- NC-3 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 14.2 sq mi · 1,075 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28557?
28557 centers on 34.738°, -76.750° and covers 14.2 square miles of land plus 9.1 of water. It borders 2 ZIP codes: 28570, 28516.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28557, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 28557 compare with the rest of Carteret County?
| Measure | 28557 | In Carteret County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 15,253 | 2nd of 18 | 241st of 853 |
| Median household income | $69k | 5th of 7 | 239th of 528 |
| Median home value | $363k | 3rd of 8 | 123rd of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 44% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 79% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 28557?
The 2020 Census counted 14,910 people in 28557; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 15,253. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 3.3% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 15,253
- 2020 Census count
- 14,910+3.3% since 2010 (14,429)
- Households
- 7,714
- Median age
- 48.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 28557?
Of the 15,253 people the ACS estimates in 28557, 17.0% are under 18 and 28.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (82.4%).
- Under 1817.0%
- 18 to 6454.8%
- 65 and older28.1%
- White, not Hispanic82.4%
- Hispanic or Latino6.3%
- Other or two or more5.4%
- Black, not Hispanic4.6%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 28557 earn?
Median household income is $68,528 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 7 ranked ZIP codes in Carteret County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($67,618 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $68,528
- Income per person
- $48,362
- Below the poverty line
- 11.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 41.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $97,9937,510 returns; wages 48% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 28557?
FHFA's house price index for 28557, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 107% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 68% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +8.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $362,800
- Median gross rent
- $1,149
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 62.5%
- Housing units
- 9,268
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 28557?
889 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 65 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade156
- Health care and social assistance115
- Accommodation and food services100
- Professional, scientific, and technical services83
- Construction81
- Other services (except public administration)80
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 28557?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28570 | Newport | 22,197 | $70k | 7.9 mi |
| 28516 | Beaufort | 11,289 | $66k | 11.0 mi |
| 28512 | Atlantic Beach | 3,358 | $92k | 4.1 mi (near) |
| 28575 | Salter Path | 169 | – | 8.2 mi (near) |
| 28531 | Harkers Island | 1,060 | $60k | 11.4 mi (near) |
| 28528 | Gloucester | 407 | $64k | 12.0 mi (near) |
| 28594 | Emerald Isle | 3,934 | $90k | 13.0 mi (near) |
| 28553 | Marshallberg | 413 | $89k | 13.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.