The Town Files

Dare County, North Carolina

37,875 people. The median home is worth $460,400 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $88,994.

Towns in Dare County

Towns in Dare County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Kill Devil Hills7,656$442,200$89,77348.5
Kitty Hawk3,689$535,000$94,45049.3
Nags Head3,168$490,800$91,26458.4
Southern Shores3,090$712,300$131,42958.7

People and housing

Dare CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$460,400$228,900
Median rent$1,345$969
Median household income$88,994$60,458
Median age49.041.1
Bachelor's degree or higher43.2%24.5%
Below the poverty line6.6%14.3%

Jobs and pay

20,359 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,480 a year.

Largest industries in Dare CountyHotels & restaurants4,898 jobs · $32,152Retail3,913 jobs · $39,489Real estate1,870 jobs · $43,928Construction1,245 jobs · $56,723Administrative & support1,027 jobs · $44,971Manufacturing681 jobs · $59,354
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Dare County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 381 storm events in Dare County from 1996 to 2026, with 12 deaths.

Storm events in Dare County by type since 1996Hail44Drought13Tornado15High Wind24Waterspout11Flash Flood29Rip Current10Winter Storm20Coastal Flood13Tropical Storm26
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Dare County has been included in 31 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
October 19, 2024Tropical StormDR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
August 6, 2024Tropical StormEM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).