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Dare County, NC
15 cities and towns and 14 ZIP codes in Dare County, North Carolina.
Population
37,875
Land area
383sq mi
People per sq mi
99
ZIP codes
14
Cities and towns in Dare County
Dare County at a glance
- Dare County is 55% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $88,994, 23% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $460,400 (59% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,345 a month.
- Its largest cities are Kill Devil Hills (7,761), Kitty Hawk (3,724) and Nags Head (3,160).
Local data for Dare County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Dare County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$88,994
Poverty rate
6.6%
Median home value
$460,400
Prices +3.7% in a year
Median rent
$1,345/mo
Homeownership
78.4%
Bachelor's or higher
43.2%
Median age
49.0
Average commute
22.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,296), Irish Americans (4,586), Italian Americans (2,151).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,717
20,728 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$83,613
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$532M
FY 2026, $14,403 per person
PPP loans
$113M
1,865 loans, 17,810 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$670K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Dare County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone72.7%
- Carpooled8.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.9%
- Bicycle1.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home14.2%
Average one-way commute: 22.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Dare County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
381
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
12,409
39.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 36°F
46.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone14 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Dare County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.6%
U.S. 33.3% -1.7 pts
Diabetes
11.2%
U.S. 12.1% -0.9 pts
Smoking
11.4%
U.S. 12.8% -1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.3%
U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Dare County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Dare County, NC?
- Kill Devil Hills is the largest city or town in Dare County, with about 7,761 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Dare County?
- Dare County includes 14 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27915, 27920, 27936, 27943, 27948.
- What is the population of Dare County, NC?
- About 37,875 people live in Dare County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Dare County?
- Dare County borders Currituck County, Hyde County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023