Population 37,875 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dare County
Household size in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.15 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Dare County is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.15 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.9 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.4, Dare County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 43.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Dare County: 7.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few North Carolina counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only seven of 100.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Dare County
Renters in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.9% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.6% of households in Dare County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 38.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 7.1 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 41.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Dare County: 37.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.2 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Dare County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Dare County has newer homes than at least four in five North Carolina counties.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,071 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,096 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,183 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,360 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$289 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Dare County runs $1,360 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $289 a month since 2006–10, up 27%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Dare County
Bachelor's degrees in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.7% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in Dare County (42.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only eight have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Dare County: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Dare County has the highest share of high school graduates of any North Carolina county.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Dare County
| Period | Dare County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dare County is close to the national rate: 5.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in North Carolina overall (4.8%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Dare County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dare County | 2.26 | 49.4 | 7.1% | 21.6% | 37.6% | 1991 | $1,360 | 42.6% | 94.5% | 5.9% |
| Tyrrell County | 1.95 | 48.2 | 10.5% | 22.2% | 30.4% | 1974 | $762 | 14.8% | 83.8% | 3.2% |
| Washington County | 2.32 | 50.8 | 22.9% | 32.0% | 19.5% | 1975 | $772 | 13.2% | 85.4% | 15.6% |
| Bertie County | 2.26 | 47.7 | 10.5% | 27.3% | 22.0% | 1980 | $815 | 18.3% | 81.1% | 7.7% |
| Martin County | 2.30 | 45.5 | 11.6% | 33.2% | 13.6% | 1978 | $770 | 16.9% | 85.1% | 5.7% |
| Edgecombe County | 2.49 | 41.1 | 18.5% | 39.2% | 17.3% | 1977 | $891 | 17.6% | 84.9% | 8.5% |
| Nash County | 2.49 | 42.5 | 13.0% | 36.4% | 11.6% | 1985 | $918 | 21.9% | 87.0% | 4.6% |
| Franklin County | 2.57 | 41.9 | 10.9% | 21.4% | 8.7% | 1997 | $1,106 | 27.8% | 89.2% | 4.8% |
| Durham County | 2.32 | 38.2 | 11.5% | 44.5% | 8.5% | 1990 | $1,573 | 55.0% | 91.1% | 4.2% |
| Orange County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.2% | 36.2% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,507 | 62.6% | 93.5% | 3.4% |
| Alamance County | 2.51 | 39.6 | 12.2% | 35.0% | 9.7% | 1986 | $1,093 | 28.6% | 88.2% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wells County, IN · Bladen County, NC · Bolivar County, MS · Carroll County, AR · Cherokee County, NC · Cibola County, NM · Shenandoah County, VA · Siskiyou County, CA · Smyth County, VA · Warren County, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Dare County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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