Morehead City, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Newport or Down East? Answer 7 quick questions about how you live and we will match you with the Carteret County town that fits.
How the Crystal Coast town quiz works
Every town in the quiz gets a score on eight things people weigh when they move to Carteret County: how close the beach is, how affordable it is, how family friendly it is, how much room you get, the drive to Cherry Point and the drive to Camp Lejeune, how close the stores and restaurants are, and how much small-town feel it has. Your answers set what you want on each one, and the quiz ranks the towns by how close they come. Use it as a starting point and read up on your top three before you choose.
The Carteret County towns at a glance
Morehead City
Carteret County’s main hub on Bogue Sound, with the most stores, restaurants and services, the state port and the NC Seafood Festival every October. Atlantic Beach is just over the bridge.
Beaufort
One of the oldest towns in North Carolina, with a historic waterfront on Taylor’s Creek, the NC Maritime Museum and wild horses on the Rachel Carson Reserve across the water. Charming, walkable and in high demand.
Atlantic Beach
The classic beach town at the east end of Bogue Banks, next to Fort Macon State Park. Busy and fun in summer, quiet in winter, and a short bridge from everything in Morehead City.
Emerald Isle
A family beach town on the west end of Bogue Banks with the Bogue Inlet Pier, The Point at the inlet and a bike path along Emerald Drive. Popular with vacationers and with families who want the beach every day.
Pine Knoll Shores
A quiet, wooded town in the middle of Bogue Banks, home to the NC Aquarium and a protected maritime forest. Mostly homes and condos, with very little commercial strip.
Newport
A small town on US 70 between Morehead City and Havelock, next to the Croatan National Forest. Bigger lots, lower prices and the shortest drive to Cherry Point make it popular with military families.
Cape Carteret and Cedar Point
Mainland towns where NC 24 meets the Emerald Isle bridge, on the White Oak River. Newer neighborhoods, quick beach access and the easiest Carteret County commute toward Swansboro and Camp Lejeune.
Harkers Island and Down East
Old fishing communities on Core Sound with boatbuilding and decoy-carving traditions, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and the ferries to Cape Lookout. Quiet, rural and about as far from crowds as the county gets.
Before you buy on the coast
Check the flood zone and get flood and wind insurance quotes before you make an offer, especially on Bogue Banks and Down East. Ask how old the roof and the HVAC system are, because salt air shortens the life of both. Look under the house too: crawl space moisture and termites are common here. And drive your commute at rush hour, since US 70 through Morehead City and the bridges to the island back up in summer.
Moving here? Get free quotes from local pros
Salt air, humidity and storms are hard on coastal homes. Before you move in, get the HVAC, roof and crawl space looked at. Tell us what you need and a local pro serving Carteret County will reach out. No cost and no obligation.