Town guide

Atlantic, North Carolina

Atlantic is a community in Carteret County, North Carolina, home to about 522 people across 0.9 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28511.

Homes sold for a median of $253 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.

Population522567 per sq mi
Median home value$154,300Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$253Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking0%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Atlantic

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Atlantic. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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We’re writing up Atlantic’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around Atlantic

Distances

Nearest major airportNorfolk International Airport (ORF)139 miles away
Closer regional airportCoastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN)41 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Chesapeake, VA124 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Philadelphia, PA360 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Atlantic; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Atlantic

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Atlantic had 468 residents in the 2020 census, down 14% since 2010.

It’s the 580th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.

Carteret County grew from 11,811 residents in 1900 to 67,686 in 2020.

Atlantic population by census2010: 543, 2020: 46854320104682020

Carteret County, 1900–2020

Carteret County population, 1900 to 20201900: 11,811, 1910: 13,776, 1920: 15,384, 1930: 16,900, 1940: 18,284, 1950: 23,059, 1960: 30,940, 1970: 31,603, 1980: 41,092, 1990: 52,556, 2000: 59,383, 2010: 66,469, 2020: 67,68612K’00’1015K’20’3018K’40’5031K’60’7041K’80’9059K’00’1068K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 93°F in summer, and winter lows average 38°F. About 59.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near AtlanticJan: high 62°F, low 38°F, 4.6 in; Feb: high 63°F, low 39°F, 3.7 in; Mar: high 69°F, low 45°F, 3.9 in; Apr: high 77°F, low 54°F, 3.6 in; May: high 84°F, low 62°F, 4.3 in; Jun: high 90°F, low 69°F, 4.4 in; Jul: high 93°F, low 73°F, 6.7 in; Aug: high 91°F, low 72°F, 8 in; Sep: high 87°F, low 69°F, 7.1 in; Oct: high 79°F, low 59°F, 4.5 in; Nov: high 70°F, low 48°F, 4.1 in; Dec: high 64°F, low 41°F, 4.6 in62°38°Jan4.663°39°Feb3.769°45°Mar3.977°54°Apr3.684°62°May4.390°69°Jun4.493°73°Jul6.791°72°Aug8.087°69°Sep7.179°59°Oct4.570°48°Nov4.164°41°Dec4.6Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cedar Is, NC weather station (7 miles away).

Jobs in Carteret County

21,789 jobs at 2,249 businesses in Carteret County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Carteret CountyRetail trade: 4,602 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 4,469 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 3,609 jobs; Construction: 1,785 jobs; Other services: 1,190 jobs; Manufacturing: 991 jobs; Professional services: 918 jobs; Administrative and support: 873 jobsRetail trade 21% Hotels and restaurants 21% Health care and social assistance 17% Construction 8% Other services 6% Manufacturing 5% Professional services 4% Administrative and support 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2022 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

Nearest hospitals

  • Carteret General HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Morehead City25.5 miles
  • Carolina East Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · New Bern43.2 miles
  • Onslow Memorial HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 1 of 5 · Jacksonville59.1 miles

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances.

Schools in Atlantic

Public schools here are run by Carteret County Public Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Atlantic ElementaryAtlanticPre-K–588Public0.7 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Where Atlantic is

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Towns near Atlantic

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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.