China Grove Plantation House, 2014
Oriental’s story
140 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1886Oriental is settled
OrientalNC
A town of 909, settled in 1886.
Population
909
2025 Census estimate · +3.3% since 2020
Typical home
$387K
+1.2% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
69.6
years
Jobs based here
302
Balanced
Is Oriental a good place to live?
71% of residents are 65 or older in Oriental, above both North Carolina’s towns (18%) and U.S. towns (18%). Of the 291 North Carolina towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Oriental. Oriental has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
909 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oriental: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oriental, and how to reach them.
PowerDuke Energy15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOriental Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Oriental’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePamlico County Board of ElectionsPamlico County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP code2857128571 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Oriental.
Natural hazards
Hurricanes leads a very high hazard risk in Oriental
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 99% of U.S. communities. Since 1988, 1,383 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Oriental.
99risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland flooding
1,383
paid flood claims since 1988
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Oriental
Oriental has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. At 89°F, Oriental’s July high is near the North Carolina town median (89°F) and above the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–57°
Spring52–72°
Summer71–87°
Fall56–74°
Nov 22
typical first frost
Mar 19
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
With 1.2 jobs for every working resident, Oriental draws in 274 commuters
Most working residents leave Oriental for work: only 11% work in town. Jobs based in Oriental grew to 302 in 2023, 30 more than in 2013. Oriental’s average trip to work is 22 minutes.
11%work in town
| Oriental | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 6.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Oriental11%
New Bern8%
Raleigh5%
Bayboro5%
Alliance5%
21 mi
median commute distance
302
jobs based in Oriental
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
The typical home in Oriental is valued at about $387K
The typical Oriental home is worth about $387,000, up 1.2% in a year, 17% above the North Carolina typical home. 84% of households own their home in Oriental.
$387KZillow home value
| Oriental | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 67% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,138 a month | $1,085 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Oriental$387K
North Carolina$332K
+1.2%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
Oriental stands out in North Carolina and nationally, with fewer of its adults who report frequent mental distress
11% of Oriental adults report frequent mental distress. Among 290 North Carolina towns, just 4 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Oriental. 9.4% of Oriental adults binge drink.
| Oriental | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 17% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 15% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 50% | 38% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 33% | 33% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
16 better8 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Oriental | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 5.4% | 12.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 3.9% | 8.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 16.2% | 7.9% |
Carteret General Hospital
21.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
Oriental has set aside 0.6% of its land for conservation
1.1 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The trail density in Oriental is 0.7 miles per square mile.
0.6%conserved
| Oriental | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.6% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
0.6%
conserved · 6 of 1,049 acres
1.1 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lupton Park | — | 1 |
| 2. Oriental Access Area | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oriental
17pages on Oriental
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Oriental
About 1 of every 100 Oriental residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
About Oriental
Town in North Carolina, United States
Oriental is one of nine incorporated municipalities in Pamlico County, North Carolina, United States. Oriental is also known as "The Sailing Capital of North Carolina" The population was 880, according to the 2020 census. It is part of the New Bern Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 10 ft
- ZIP code
- 28571
- Area code
- 252
Questions about Oriental
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oriental, NC a good place to live?
Oriental has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.