Population 723 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ocracoke
Household size in Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.06 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.06 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.21 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.86 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Ocracoke is a place of small households, averaging 1.86 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 2.06, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.1 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 53.1 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +15.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Ocracoke skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.8, 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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.1% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −23.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Ocracoke (19.1%), well above the national share of 11.6%.
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 Ocracoke
Renters in Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.8% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.8% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −13.6 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.3% of households in Ocracoke rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About a third of owners (32.7%) 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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 65.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 68.0% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −26.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 45.6% of the housing in Ocracoke, 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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Ocracoke are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990.
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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $827 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $927 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $725 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,408 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$581 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Ocracoke runs $1,408 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in North Carolina as a whole ($1,317). Rent takes 45.0% of the typical renter's income, 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 Ocracoke
Bachelor's degrees in Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.7% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Ocracoke (39.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%.
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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 100.0% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 74.4% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Ocracoke is above the national rate: 94.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 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 Ocracoke
| Period | Ocracoke | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Ocracoke has been strong: just 0.9% 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).
Ocracoke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocracoke | 1.86 | 49.8 | 19.1% | 23.3% | 45.6% | 1978 | $1,408 | 39.7% | 94.0% | 0.9% |
| Hatteras | 1.55 | 60.5 | 5.4% | 1.2% | 87.1% | 1993 | $1,053 | 40.6% | 99.8% | 0.1% |
| Frisco | 2.01 | 44.9 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 42.8% | 1991 | $1,003 | 35.3% | 91.7% | 1.1% |
| Buxton | 2.05 | 46.7 | 7.9% | 19.1% | 37.6% | 1994 | $953 | 30.8% | 92.1% | 2.2% |
| Hobucken | 2.16 | 63.3 | 4.5% | 6.0% | 39.8% | 1977 | $583 | 13.4% | 87.5% | 0.0% |
| Whortonsville | 1.78 | 58.1 | 2.9% | 19.9% | 17.1% | 2004 | $1,131 | 68.7% | 99.0% | 10.1% |
| Pamlico | 1.80 | 58.8 | 3.3% | 19.0% | 19.8% | 2002 | $1,131 | 64.0% | 96.7% | 9.6% |
| Mesic | 2.16 | 63.3 | 4.5% | 6.0% | 39.8% | 1977 | $583 | 13.4% | 87.5% | 0.0% |
| Vandemere | 2.47 | 52.2 | 7.0% | 30.8% | 29.4% | 1995 | $580 | 15.7% | 92.2% | 1.4% |
| Merritt | 1.91 | 61.2 | 6.8% | 13.9% | 33.9% | 1992 | $1,017 | 30.8% | 84.0% | 4.9% |
| Oriental | 2.12 | 58.7 | 6.3% | 14.9% | 26.5% | 1992 | $1,114 | 42.1% | 93.4% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Monmouth, IN · Lynco, WV · Lyons Point, LA · Macomb, MO · Maine, NY · Manlyville, TN · Mannboro, VA · Mantua Corners, OH · March ARB, CA · Marietta, NC
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 Ocracoke. 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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