The Town FilesBelhaven, North Carolina
Town in Beaufort County · population 1,410 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,000
- Household income
- $32,644
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 48.7
Belhaven is a town of 1,410 people in Beaufort County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $103,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 98% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 81% of North Carolina towns.
How Belhaven ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Belhaven is worth $103,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $32,644, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $929 a month. 53.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belhaven | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $929 | $969 |
| Median household income | $32,644 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.9% | — |
Who lives in Belhaven
| People | Belhaven | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Belhaven
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 52.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 48 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belhaven since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 25, 2014 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 3, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Beaufort County since 1996
Beaufort County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Beaufort County
Beaufort County had 15,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,313 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Belhaven itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Towns near Belhaven
- River Road, NC20.6 mi · 4,048 people · home $232,800
- Plymouth, NC22.9 mi · 3,320 people · home $87,000
- Washington, NC23.9 mi · 9,875 people · home $206,800
- Cypress Landing, NC24.5 mi · 1,257 people · home $440,000
- Chocowinity, NC27.0 mi · 722 people · home $114,300
- Bayboro, NC28.4 mi · 1,161 people · home $138,000
- Alliance, NC29.5 mi · 733 people · home $142,400
Belhaven questions
Is Belhaven, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belhaven scores better for retirees than 78% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 81%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Belhaven?
The median owner-occupied home in Belhaven is valued at $103,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,644, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $929 a month.
What is the weather like in Belhaven?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Belhaven get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belhaven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 25, 2014. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)