Beaufort, North Carolina

About Beaufort

Beaufort is a small town in southeastern North Carolina, home to 4,895 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Beaufort holds the status of an incorporated town — local government on a neighborly scale. The community covers 5.13 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 954 residents per square mile.

📰 Beaufort News Today

• 9 Ideal North Carolina Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend in 2026 WorldAtlas · Aug 18
• Beaufort weighs 80-acre commercial development The Business Journals · Aug 17
• Beaufort roundabout project moves forward, more road closures ahead WITN · Aug 17
• This town on NC’s Crystal Coast is among top US travel spots, WorldAtlas says Charlotte Observer · May 13
• This Historic Town Might Be North Carolina’s Most Underrated Weekend Escape Southern Living · Jul 16

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Beaufort Unique

• Positioned in southeastern North Carolina, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of North Carolina — one of 776 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Quiet streets and a slower rhythm — the kind of place people move to on purpose.
• Cost of living typically runs below the big-metro average.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Beaufort

• Clawson's 1905 Restaurant
• Front Street Grill — regional
• Moonrakers
• Royal James Cafe (café)
• 34° North Restaurant
• Beaufort Cafe (café)
• Beaufort Grocery — regional
• Blackbeard's Grill and Steam Bar — seafood
• Blue Moon Bistro
• Dragon King

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Fort Macon · Attraction
• Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center · Museum
• Island Express Ferry Service · Attraction
• Lookout Cruises · Attraction
• North Carolina Maritime Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Beaufort

• Fort Macon State Park reviews ★
• Curtis Perry Park reviews ★
• Freedom Park reviews ★
• Grayden Paul Jaycee Park reviews ★
• Highland Park reviews ★
• Lynn Eury Park reviews ★
• Old Beaufort Elementary School reviews ★
• Rachel Carson Estuarine Sanctuary · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Radio Island Beach Access reviews ★
• Randolph Johnson Memorial Park reviews ★
• Topsail Marine Memorial Park reviews ★
• Town of Beaufort Boardwalk reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Beaufort

• Beaufort Elementary
• Beaufort Middle
• East Carteret High
• Tiller School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Beaufort

🏘️ Nearby Communities