Population 3,160 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Nags Head
Household size in Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.07 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.97 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Nags Head is a place of small households, averaging 1.97 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.07, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.7 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 59.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +16.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Nags Head skews older: half of its residents are older than 59.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Nags Head: 4.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Nags Head
Renters in Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.5% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.3% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.1% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −16.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nags Head is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (33.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 72.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 68.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Nags Head: 63.8% 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.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Nags Head are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1986, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of North Carolina.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,150 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,230 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,279 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,008 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$142 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Nags Head costs $1,008 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 34.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Nags Head
Bachelor's degrees in Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.7% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.7% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.5 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Nags Head: 50.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.0% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Nags Head: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Nags Head
| Period | Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Nags Head has been low: just 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Nags Head compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nags Head | 1.97 | 59.4 | 4.3% | 17.2% | 63.8% | 1986 | $1,008 | 50.7% | 94.8% | 1.3% |
| Manteo | 2.48 | 45.2 | 8.4% | 18.4% | 13.2% | 1997 | $1,258 | 36.2% | 93.9% | 3.0% |
| Kill Devil Hills | 2.25 | 47.0 | 11.3% | 25.7% | 33.5% | 1990 | $1,710 | 43.4% | 94.5% | 7.6% |
| Wanchese | 2.71 | 36.7 | 12.7% | 29.9% | 7.8% | 1987 | $1,079 | 29.8% | 92.4% | 2.2% |
| Manns Harbor | 1.91 | 45.3 | 6.3% | 27.9% | 14.1% | 1986 | $1,184 | 22.4% | 85.6% | 8.6% |
| Kitty Hawk | 2.33 | 50.3 | 2.2% | 25.1% | 41.2% | 1991 | $1,314 | 47.5% | 96.0% | 7.5% |
| Buffalo City | 1.91 | 45.3 | 6.3% | 27.9% | 14.1% | 1986 | $1,184 | 22.4% | 85.6% | 8.6% |
| Goat Neck | 1.73 | 44.8 | 7.0% | 13.7% | 29.4% | 1992 | $1,129 | 7.5% | 85.6% | 0.0% |
| Soundside | 1.73 | 44.8 | 7.0% | 13.7% | 29.4% | 1992 | $1,129 | 7.5% | 85.6% | 0.0% |
| Pleasant View | 1.67 | 59.3 | 6.9% | 9.9% | 27.4% | 1976 | $645 | 18.8% | 97.3% | 5.8% |
| Columbia | 2.04 | 43.0 | 14.8% | 33.1% | 33.8% | 1966 | $759 | 13.5% | 79.9% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Big Lake, TX · New London, IA · Port Washington North, NY · Frankfort, MI · Warrenton, GA · Fairfax, SC · Delanson, NY · DeCordova, TX · Danville, AR · Dalton Gardens, ID
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 Nags Head. 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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