The Town FilesHarkers Island, North Carolina
Community in Carteret County · population 1,127 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $313,100
- Household income
- $60,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 61.5
Harkers Island is a community of 1,127 people in Carteret County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $313,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of North Carolina towns.
How Harkers Island 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 Harkers Island is worth $313,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $60,000, which is more affordable than 14% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 89.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harkers Island | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $313,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $969 |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 89.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 53.8% | — |
Who lives in Harkers Island
| People | Harkers Island | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Harkers Island
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 37.5°F. About 55.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harkers Island since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 15, 1990 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 1996.
Severe weather in Carteret County since 1996
Carteret County has been included in 30 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 |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Carteret County
Carteret County had 25,022 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,708 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Harkers Island itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Harkers Island
1 public school with 111 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harkers Island Elementary | K-5 | 111 | 12.3 |
Towns near Harkers Island
- Beaufort, NC5.7 mi · 4,464 people · home $354,900
- Atlantic Beach, NC10.6 mi · 1,364 people · home $498,400
- Morehead City, NC10.6 mi · 9,556 people · home $357,400
- Pine Knoll Shores, NC15.7 mi · 1,388 people · home $592,300
- Brandywine Bay, NC15.9 mi · 1,153 people · home $371,500
- Newport, NC19.0 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Broad Creek, NC20.8 mi · 1,968 people · home $244,200
- Cherry Branch, NC21.8 mi · 1,211 people · home $262,200
Harkers Island questions
Is Harkers Island, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harkers Island scores better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 96%. 35.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.5).
How much does a house cost in Harkers Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Harkers Island is valued at $313,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,000, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Harkers Island?
July highs average 86.7°F and January lows 37.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Harkers Island get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harkers Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 15, 1990. 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)