| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead City | 1 | 10,529 | 9,589 | 0.91% | 1,421 | 7 | Town |
| Beaufort | 2 | 5,018 | 4,475 | 2.16% | 986 | 5 | Town |
| Newport | 3 | 4,541 | 4,344 | 0.91% | 591 | 8 | Town |
| Emerald Isle | 4 | 4,005 | 3,846 | 0.88% | 814 | 5 | Town |
| Cape Carteret | 5 | 2,287 | 2,228 | 0.62% | 906 | 3 | Town |
| Cedar Point | 6 | 1,838 | 1,777 | 0.71% | 823 | 2 | Town |
| Pine Knoll Shores | 7 | 1,435 | 1,386 | 0.84% | 650 | 2 | Town |
| Atlantic Beach | 8 | 1,418 | 1,373 | 0.71% | 595 | 2 | Town |
| Peletier | 9 | 810 | 775 | 0.87% | 224 | 4 | Town |
| Bogue | 10 | 710 | 691 | 0.57% | 259 | 3 | Town |
| Indian Beach | 11 | 233 | 222 | 0.87% | 409 | 1 | Town |
Morehead City is the largest city in Carteret County, with a population of 10,529.
Indian Beach is the smallest city in Carteret County, with a population of 233.
There are 11 cities in Carteret County, North Carolina.