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Nags Head, NC
Town in Dare County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 27959.
Population
3,160
Land area
6.6sq mi
People per sq mi
478
ZIP codes
1
Nags Head and its ZIP codes
Nags Head at a glance
- Nags Head is about 2.2 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $91,264 a year, 26% more than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $490,800 (70% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,005 a month.
Local data for Nags Head, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Nags Head, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$91,264
Poverty rate
2.4%
Median home value
$490,800
Median rent
$1,005/mo
Homeownership
82.8%
Bachelor's or higher
50.9%
Median age
58.4
Average commute
22.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (598), Italian Americans (559), German Americans (474).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Dare County. PPP loans are for Nags Head.
Unemployment rate
2.7%
Sep 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
How people get to work
Nags Head, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone84.3%
- Carpooled4.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home10.9%
Average one-way commute: 22.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Nags Head, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
381
Countywide, mostly 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 zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Nags Head, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.6%
U.S. 33.3% -1.7 pts
Diabetes
11.8%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
11.1%
U.S. 12.8% -1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.2%
U.S. 11.1% -4.9 pts
ZIP codes in Nags Head
1 in or overlapping Nags Head. Population shown
Cities near Nags Head
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| ManteoTown | 2.8 mi | 1.9 |
| WancheseCensus-designated place | 5.9 mi | 4.7 |
| Kill Devil HillsTown | 7.7 mi | 5.6 |
| Manns HarborCensus-designated place | 9.8 mi | 4 |
| Kitty HawkTown | 12 mi | 8.1 |
| Southern ShoresTown | 16 mi | 3.9 |
| DuckTown | 20 mi | 2.4 |
| RodantheCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 1 |
| WavesCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 0.7 |
| GrandyCensus-designated place | 26 mi | 6.8 |
| SalvoCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Nags Head, NC in?
- Nags Head is in Dare County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Nags Head, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Nags Head include 27959.
- What is the population of Nags Head, NC?
- About 3,160 people live in Nags Head, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Nags Head?
- Nearby places include Manteo (2.8 mi), Wanchese (5.9 mi), Kill Devil Hills (7.7 mi), Manns Harbor (9.8 mi), Kitty Hawk (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023