1st Advantage MortgageAbout 72% of Hyde County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $53,713. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Hyde County
- Hyde County housing compared with North Carolina
- How much Hyde County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Hyde County
- Places inside Hyde County
- Hyde County and the counties next door
- What a median Hyde County budget can carry
- More Hyde County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Hyde County
- Lender oversight for Hyde County
- Four steps for Hyde County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Hyde County
Hyde County is home to about 4,592 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 99th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Land area is 612 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Hyde County is not part of any metropolitan area. Ocracoke is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 723 people (16% of the county total). Because Hyde County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Hyde County housing compared with North Carolina
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,263 in Hyde County versus $1,228 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 63% of renter households here. Home values center on $124,000, or 2.3 years of median income. 72% of Hyde County households own their home and 28% rent.
| Hyde County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,263/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,000 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 63% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 49% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.3% | 11.0% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How much Hyde County households make
At $53,713, the typical Hyde County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 73 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Hyde County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.6% | +13.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.9% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.5% | -12.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -8.4 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 14% clear $100,000. Census counts 22.2% of Hyde County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.405 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $53,713 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Hyde County
The biggest employer of Hyde County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 16% of workers, followed by education and health care (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 16% locally and 1% for North Carolina. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Hyde County. Long commutes are common here: 29% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 11.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Hyde County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.8% | +14.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.1% | -8.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.5% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 9.9% | +5.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.8% | +2.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Places inside Hyde County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Hyde County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 1,436 residents, leaving about 69% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocracoke | CDP | 723 | $77,583 | $1,408 | 25 mi |
| Swan Quarter | CDP | 458 | $71,289 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Engelhard | CDP | 174 | $50,673 | $790 | 11 mi |
| Fairfield | CDP | 81 | $46,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Hyde County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 44 miles). Income ranges from $41,685 in Tyrrell County to $88,994 in Dare County; 4 of these neighbors top Hyde County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde County | - | $53,713 | $1,263/mo | 72% |
| Dare County, NC | 26 mi | $88,994 | $1,345/mo | 78% |
| Tyrrell County, NC | 32 mi | $41,685 | $644/mo | 78% |
| Pamlico County, NC | 34 mi | $59,717 | $752/mo | 83% |
| Washington County, NC | 38 mi | $41,813 | $743/mo | 68% |
| Beaufort County, NC | 39 mi | $58,357 | $871/mo | 70% |
| Carteret County, NC | 44 mi | $72,322 | $1,108/mo | 75% |
What a median Hyde County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Hyde County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Hyde County: $4,476
- Rent at the median, $1,263, takes 28% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $348 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Hyde County figures
15% of Hyde County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Hyde County | All of North Carolina | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.7% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.6% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.2% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Hyde County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 23.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hyde County
Based on the Hyde County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Hyde County. For the 16% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 29% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Hyde County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 22% of Hyde County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 47.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Lender oversight for Hyde County
Hyde County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Hyde County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hyde County:
- Price the Hyde County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hyde County?
$53,713 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 74th of 100 in the state.
How does Hyde County rent compare with North Carolina?
$1,263 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 3% above.
Which towns does the Hyde County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Ocracoke, Swan Quarter, Engelhard, Fairfield.
Is the fit check different in Hyde County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Hyde County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.