1st Advantage MortgageDare County households have a median income of $88,994 and median rent of $1,345 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Dare County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Dare County
- How much Dare County households make
- The Dare County job picture
- The counties around Dare County
- Towns and communities in Dare County
- Who lives in Dare County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Dare County
- What a median Dare County budget can carry
- North Carolina rules that apply in Dare County
- Steps before you apply in Dare County
- More guides for Dare County
- Frequently asked questions
Dare County at a glance
Dare County is home to about 37,875 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 65th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Packed into 383 square miles, that is close to 99 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Dare County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Kill Devil Hills is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 7,761 people (20% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Dare County
Renters in Dare County pay a median of $1,345 a month, 10% above the North Carolina figure of $1,228. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $460,400, a typical Dare County house costs 5.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Measure | Dare County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,345/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $460,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.3% | 11.0% | n/a |
Because most Dare County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How much Dare County households make
At $88,994, the typical Dare County household income is 35% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 8th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Dare County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.0% | -6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.8% | -2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.9% | +3.5 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 44% clear $100,000. 6.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.491 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Dare County median.
The Dare County job picture
By the Census industry count, 16% of employed Dare County residents work in education and health care and 13% in arts, lodging and food service. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Dare County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). About 73% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Dare County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.4% | -6.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.5% | +5.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.1% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 11.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.5% | +3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Dare County
Six nearby counties, 26 to 54 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Currituck County leads the group on income ($93,511), Tyrrell County trails ($41,685), and Dare County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dare County | - | $88,994 | $1,345/mo | 78% |
| Hyde County, NC | 26 mi | $53,713 | $1,263/mo | 72% |
| Tyrrell County, NC | 29 mi | $41,685 | $644/mo | 78% |
| Washington County, NC | 48 mi | $41,813 | $743/mo | 68% |
| Pasquotank County, NC | 53 mi | $66,589 | $1,170/mo | 67% |
| Perquimans County, NC | 53 mi | $67,917 | $1,008/mo | 77% |
| Currituck County, NC | 54 mi | $93,511 | $1,162/mo | 87% |
Towns and communities in Dare County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Dare County residents live in one of the 15. Incomes vary by place: $136,250 at the median in Duck, $43,846 in Frisco. Live in one of these Dare County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kill Devil Hills | town | 7,761 | $89,773 | $1,626 | 29 mi |
| Kitty Hawk | town | 3,724 | $94,450 | $1,309 | 32 mi |
| Nags Head | town | 3,160 | $91,264 | $1,005 | 25 mi |
| Southern Shores | town | 3,139 | $131,429 | n/a | 35 mi |
| Manteo | town | 2,020 | $83,777 | $1,204 | 21 mi |
| Wanchese | CDP | 1,956 | $88,750 | $1,073 | 18 mi |
| Buxton | CDP | 1,267 | n/a | $909 | 28 mi |
| Manns Harbor | CDP | 926 | $51,800 | $1,294 | 20 mi |
| Rodanthe | CDP | 781 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Duck | town | 669 | $136,250 | $1,500 | 40 mi |
| Frisco | CDP | 664 | $43,846 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Avon | CDP | 339 | $35,365 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Salvo | CDP | 220 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Waves | CDP | 153 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in Dare County, in numbers
College graduates make up 43% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.6%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Measure | Dare County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.2% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Before borrowing in Dare County
Where the Dare County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Retirees. At a median age of 49.0, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
What a median Dare County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Dare County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,416 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,345, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,325: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,844 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Dare County's.
North Carolina rules that apply in Dare County
Consumer lenders serving Dare County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Steps before you apply in Dare County
Steps that save money for Dare County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Dare County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Dare County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Dare County earn?
The median is $88,994; 44% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Dare County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,345 against $1,228 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Dare County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Southern Shores, Manteo and 10 more.
Can Dare County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Dare County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.