28516 ZIP Code — Beaufort, NC
Carteret County, North Carolina
ZIP code 28516 is located in Beaufort, North Carolina, within Carteret County. It covers approximately 125.70 square miles and serves a population of 10,610 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 252.
About ZIP code 28516
The housing stock consists of a mix of housing types. Most homes were built in the 2000s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $258,800. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 66%.
Median household income is $52,556. 54% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.
The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 22 minutes is near the national average.
Educational attainment is near the national average, with 24% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
10,610
population
125.70
sq mi land
Standard
ZIP type
Eastern (ET)
timezone
28516 ZIP code map
Cities in ZIP code 28516
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 28516. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
| City | Status |
|---|---|
| Beaufort | Acceptable |
| Beaufort | Preferred |
Nearby ZIP codes
28579 Smyrna (7.3 mi)
28581 Stacy (7.3 mi)
28524 Davis (7.8 mi)
28577 Sealevel (8.3 mi)
28511 Atlantic (10.1 mi)
28528 Gloucester (10.9 mi)
28553 Marshallberg (11.2 mi)
28520 Cedar Island (12.6 mi)
28571 Oriental (14.8 mi)
28531 Harkers Island (15.6 mi)
28557 Morehead City (16.8 mi)
28510 Arapahoe (17.1 mi)
Demographics
updated 05/2026
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 10,610 |
| Population density | 84 / sq mi |
| State FIPS | 37 |
| County FIPS | 031 |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Land area | 125.70 sq mi |
| Water area | 41.72 sq mi |
| Latitude | 34.8911 |
| Longitude | -76.5351 |
| Timezone | Eastern (ET) |
| Area code | 252 |
Total population by age
Gender
Race & ethnicity
Economics
updated 05/2026
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 52.1% | 44.5% | 44.4% |
| $50k – $100k | 33.1% | 32.2% | 30.6% |
| $100k – $200k | 12.7% | 18.6% | 19.1% |
| Over $200k | 2.2% | 4.8% | 6.0% |
Demographics & statistics
10,610
Population
84
People per sq mi
55.9
Median age
$52,556
Median household income
$34,413
Per capita income
$258,800
Median home value
$845
Median monthly rent
65.7%
Home ownership
10.8%
Poverty rate
3.6%
Unemployment
5,133
Housing units
23.9%
Bachelor's or higher
Age distribution
Male
Female
119
Under 5
134
128
5–9
145
237
10–14
267
248
15–19
281
329
20–24
372
435
25–34
491
428
35–44
483
517
45–54
585
415
55–59
468
487
60–64
550
1,085
65–74
1,227
419
75–84
474
134
85+
152
← Male
Female →
Age summary
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1,401 | 13.2% |
| 18 and over | 9,209 | 86.8% |
| 65 and over | 3,491 | 32.9% |
| Median age | 55.9 years | |
Race & ethnicity
White
78.1%
Black or African American
13.1%
Two or more races
5.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native
1.3%
Hispanic or Latino
1.3%
Other race
0.8%
Asian
0.2%
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 8,392 | 78.1% |
| Black or African American | 1,404 | 13.1% |
| Two or more races | 569 | 5.3% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 145 | 1.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 142 | 1.3% |
| Other race | 82 | 0.8% |
| Asian | 18 | 0.2% |
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 52.1% | 44.5% | 44.4% |
| $50k – $100k | 33.1% | 32.2% | 30.6% |
| $100k – $200k | 12.7% | 18.6% | 19.1% |
| Over $200k | 2.2% | 4.8% | 6.0% |
Under $10k
5.4%
$10k–$15k
6.6%
$15k–$25k
14.0%
$25k–$35k
8.3%
$35k–$50k
13.3%
$50k–$75k
20.5%
$75k–$100k
12.0%
$100k–$150k
10.9%
$150k–$200k
6.0%
$200k+
3.1%
| Range | % of households |
|---|---|
| Under $10k | 5.4% |
| $10k–$15k | 6.6% |
| $15k–$25k | 14.0% |
| $25k–$35k | 8.3% |
| $35k–$50k | 13.3% |
| $50k–$75k | 20.5% |
| $75k–$100k | 12.0% |
| $100k–$150k | 10.9% |
| $150k–$200k | 6.0% |
| $200k+ | 3.1% |
| Median income | $52,556 |
Housing
Home values
Under $50k
4.8%
$50k–$100k
6.7%
$100k–$150k
8.7%
$150k–$200k
16.5%
$200k–$300k
23.5%
$300k–$500k
22.5%
$500k–$1M
14.7%
$1M+
2.6%
Housing overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,800 |
| Median rent / month | $845 |
| Owner occupied | 65.7% |
| Renter occupied | 34.3% |
| Vacant | 25.2% |
| Single-family detached | 69.4% |
| Large apartment buildings | 3.5% |
| Mobile homes | 10.5% |
| Median rooms | 5.6 |
| Avg household size (owned) | 2.07 |
Year built
| Era | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 0.1% |
| 2010–2019 | 7.9% |
| 2000–2009 | 19.0% |
| 1990–1999 | 14.9% |
| 1980–1989 | 15.2% |
| 1970–1979 | 8.9% |
| 1960–1969 | 10.2% |
| 1950–1959 | 5.8% |
| 1940–1949 | 5.6% |
| 1939 or earlier | 12.4% |
Bedrooms
| Size | % of units |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | 0.9% |
| 1 bedroom | 6.8% |
| 2 bedrooms | 27.8% |
| 3 bedrooms | 48.7% |
| 4 bedrooms | 13.4% |
| 5+ bedrooms | 2.4% |
Vehicles per household
| Vehicles | % of households |
|---|---|
| No vehicle | 4.5% |
| 1 vehicle | 37.6% |
| 2 vehicles | 38.6% |
| 3 or more | 19.3% |
Heating fuel
| Fuel type | % |
|---|---|
| Utility gas | 0.7% |
| Electricity | 85.1% |
| Propane / LP gas | 11.3% |
| Fuel oil | 1.0% |
| Wood | 0.7% |
| No fuel used | 0.9% |
Households & families
| Household type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple family | 2,201 | 42.6% |
| Cohabiting couple | 255 | 4.9% |
| Male householder, no spouse | 938 | 18.2% |
| Female householder, no spouse | 1,772 | 34.3% |
| Households with children under 18 | 861 | 16.7% |
| Households with seniors (65+) | 2,504 | 48.5% |
| Average household size | 2.00 | |
Marital status
| Status | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Never married | 29.7% | 21.8% |
| Married | 53.8% | 42.3% |
| Separated | 1.3% | 4.3% |
| Widowed | 4.2% | 15.1% |
| Divorced | 11.0% | 16.6% |
Education
Less than 9th grade
3.7%
Some HS, no diploma
9.1%
HS graduate
24.5%
Some college, no degree
27.8%
Associate's degree
10.9%
Bachelor's degree
14.6%
Graduate / professional
9.3%
| Metric | % |
|---|---|
| HS diploma or higher | 87.1% |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% |
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
| Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / preschool | 81 | 4.8% |
| Kindergarten | 53 | 3.1% |
| Elementary school | 688 | 40.7% |
| High school | 430 | 25.4% |
| College / grad school | 439 | 26.0% |
Employment
Industry of employment
Education & healthcare
24.5%
Arts, food & hospitality
20.7%
Retail trade
10.3%
Public administration
7.4%
Transportation & utilities
7.3%
Professional & management
6.5%
Construction
6.4%
Manufacturing
5.0%
Finance & real estate
3.9%
Other services
3.6%
Agriculture & mining
2.4%
Information
1.3%
Wholesale trade
0.9%
Occupation
| Category | % |
|---|---|
| Management, business & arts | 32.1% |
| Service | 26.1% |
| Sales & office | 19.0% |
| Natural resources & construction | 11.3% |
| Production & transportation | 11.5% |
Employment type
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private sector | 73.6% |
| Government | 18.4% |
| Self-employed | 8.0% |
| Unpaid family workers | 0.0% |
Commute
| Method | % |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 82.9% |
| Carpool | 3.8% |
| Public transit | 0.5% |
| Walk | 0.8% |
| Work from home | 7.7% |
| Other means | 4.3% |
| Avg commute (minutes) | 21.7 |
Poverty
All people
10.8%
Under 18 years
11.5%
18 and over
10.7%
Married-couple families
7.7%
Female-led households
11.3%
Income support
| Source | % of households |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 54.1% |
| Retirement income | 28.0% |
| Supplemental Security | 4.5% |
| Cash public assistance | 0.2% |
| Food stamps / SNAP | 11.6% |
Health indicators
| Condition | % |
|---|---|
| Obesity | 34.7% |
| High blood pressure | 37.7% |
| High cholesterol | 37.3% |
| Diabetes | 12.1% |
| Heart disease | 8.0% |
| Stroke | 3.8% |
| Asthma | 9.4% |
| Arthritis | 30.0% |
| Kidney disease | 3.5% |
| Pulmonary disease | 8.2% |
| Cancer | 7.6% |
| Behavior / access | % |
|---|---|
| Smoking | 19.1% |
| Binge drinking | 14.8% |
| No physical activity | 23.1% |
| Less than 7 hrs sleep | 32.9% |
| Depression | 22.9% |
| Fair or poor health | 15.0% |
| Poor mental health | 14.0% |
| Poor physical health | 11.6% |
| No health insurance | 16.0% |
| Visited doctor (checkup) | 79.8% |
| Visited dentist | 64.9% |
| Cholesterol screening | 91.1% |
| Teeth loss | 14.6% |
Veterans & disability
| Veterans | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian veterans | 886 | 9.6% |
| Disability | % |
|---|---|
| Any disability | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 9.3% |
| 18–64 years | 13.4% |
| 65 and over | 27.4% |
Health insurance coverage
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private insurance | 63.7% |
| Public insurance | 47.8% |
| No insurance | 11.0% |
| Uninsured under 19 | 7.1% |
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
| Language | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 10,357 | 97.6% |
| Spanish | 49 | 0.5% |
| Other Indo-European | 23 | 0.2% |
| Asian & Pacific Islander | 17 | 0.2% |
| Other languages | 9 | 0.1% |
Place of birth & citizenship
| Origin | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Native born (US) | 10,401 | 98.0% |
| Born in same state | 10,198 | 96.1% |
| Born in different state | 6,764 | 63.8% |
| Foreign born | 203 | 1.9% |
| Naturalized citizen | 209 | 2.0% |
| Not a US citizen | 146 | 69.9% |
Ancestry
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| French | 2,116 | 19.9% |
| Arab | 1,479 | 13.9% |
| Italian | 1,194 | 11.3% |
| English | 95 | 0.9% |
| Polish | 49 | 0.5% |
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Irish | 48 | 0.5% |
| Norwegian | 32 | 0.3% |
| Dutch | 31 | 0.3% |
| German | 14 | 0.1% |
Technology access
| Metric | % of households |
|---|---|
| Computer access | 48.7% |
| Internet access | 94.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 28516
What city is ZIP code 28516 in?
ZIP code 28516 is primarily assigned to Beaufort, North Carolina.
What county is ZIP code 28516 in?
ZIP code 28516 falls within Carteret County, North Carolina.
Does ZIP code 28516 have an older population?
33% of residents in ZIP code 28516 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.
Does ZIP code 28516 have a large retiree population?
54% of households in ZIP code 28516 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.
Does ZIP code 28516 have a large veteran population?
10% of civilians in ZIP code 28516 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.
What is the population of ZIP code 28516?
ZIP code 28516 has an estimated population of 10,610 residents, with a density of 84 people per square mile.
What timezone is ZIP code 28516 in?
ZIP code 28516 observes the EST timezone.