Carteret County, North Carolina
22 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-04
Throughout Carteret County, the 22 monitored ZIP codes show low violation rates and healthy safety scores — a pattern that puts the county well above the state baseline for drinking water quality.
How Carteret County Compares
How Carteret County Compares
Carteret County scores 3 points below the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Carteret County, North Carolina
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.9 (asthma 10.4%, diabetes 12.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $5,290, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.353% avg pipe failure probability, 19% of ZIPs at high risk
52.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Carteret County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 12 violations. Past 5 years: 16 total (16 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $5,290
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
55,393 housing units in Carteret County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Carteret County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Carteret County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Carteret County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Carteret County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Raleigh, | 640,000 | 78 |
| 2 | Bayleaf Master | 15,585 | 78 |
| 3 | Stonehenge S/d | 1,840 | 78 |
| 4 | Vance Company Water District Phase 1 | 1,580 | 78 |
| 5 | Middlesex Water System | 1,389 | 78 |
38 total water systems serve Carteret County.
All ZIP Codes in Carteret County
22 ZIP codes tracked in Carteret County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28533 | Cherry Point | 95 | A | 0 | — |
| 2 | 27588 | Wake Forest | 91 | A | 10 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 28541 | Jacksonville | 89 | A | 19 (4 health) | — |
| 4 | 28531 | Harkers Island | 85 | A | 0 | $296K |
| 5 | 28570 | Newport | 79 | B | 3 (1 health) | $245K |
| 6 | 28557 | Morehead City | 78 | B | 7 (2 health) | $332K |
| 7 | 28512 | Atlantic Beach | 74 | B | 1 (1 health) | $529K |
| 8 | 28516 | Beaufort | 74 | B | 4 (1 health) | $292K |
| 9 | 27611 | Raleigh | 73 | B | 78 (7 health) | — |
| 10 | 28594 | Emerald Isle | 73 | B | 4 | $564K |
| 11 | 28581 | Stacy | 71 | B | 0 | $173K |
| 12 | 28584 | Swansboro | 70 | B | 2 | $308K |
| 13 | 28338 | Ellerbe | 69 | C | 8 (1 health) | $161K |
| 14 | 28511 | Atlantic | 60 | C | 0 | $155K |
| 15 | 28520 | Cedar Island | 60 | C | 0 | $223K |
| 16 | 28528 | Gloucester | 60 | C | 0 | $247K |
| 17 | 28553 | Marshallberg | 60 | C | 0 | $173K |
| 18 | 28575 | Salter Path | 60 | C | 0 | $243K |
| 19 | 28589 | Williston | 60 | C | 0 | — |
| 20 | 28524 | Davis | 55 | C | 0 | $180K |
| 21 | 28577 | Sealevel | 55 | C | 0 | $442K |
| 22 | 28579 | Smyrna | 55 | C | 0 | $416K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Carteret County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 52.9% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Carteret County, North Carolina
Overview
Carteret County in North Carolina covers 22 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).
10 of 22 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 18 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to North Carolina water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.