CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Nags Head

North Carolina · 1,838 residents · 6.62 sq mi

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Part of the Kill Devil Hills micropolitan area

The short version

Nags Head is home to 1,838 people in North Carolina. The median age is 38.2, about 5 years above the US median. The population has fallen 32% since 2000. About 31% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Households here earn about 29% more than in North Carolina as a whole. Poverty is uncommon here, at 5.9% of locals.

At a glance

Wealthier

above the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 38.2

US median: 33.0

More educated

31% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

1,838

−32%vs 2000

vs 2,700 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

38.2

−10%vs 2000

vs 42.7 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

6.62 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20243K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 55.7%(105)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 94.7%(87)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 143.5%(65)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 194.5%(82)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 245.3%(97)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3418.7%(344)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4419.2%(352)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411.6%(213)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6412.4%(228)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 747.8%(144)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 844.5%(83)

US avg: 4%

85 and over2.1%(38)

US avg: 1.2%

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Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$34,375

−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $53,095 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$17,295

−43%vs 2000

vs $30,157 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

5.9%

−0.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 6.1% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$125,000

+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $143,400 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$570

+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $714 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

68.5%

−5.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 73.6% in 2000

31.5% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic96%(2,593)

Black1.3%(36)

Hispanic / Latino1.4%(39)

Asian0.4%(12)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic97.6%(1,793)

Black1.6%(29)

Hispanic / Latino0.8%(14)

Asian0.9%(16)

Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican1.5%(46)

Central American0.9%(27)

Cuban0.5%(17)

Honduran0.4%(14)

Costa Rican0.3%(8)

Guatemalan0.2%(5)

Asian origin

Chinese0.4%(12)

Korean0.3%(10)

Filipino0.2%(7)

Japanese0.2%(5)

Ancestry

Irish18.9%(598)

Italian17.7%(559)

German15%(474)

American12.7%(400)

English12.5%(396)

Polish8.8%(277)

Scotch-Irish2.7%(85)

Welsh1.8%(57)

French1.4%(45)

British1.4%(44)

Swedish1%(33)

Dutch1%(31)

+ 10 more ancestry groups with data

Lithuanian0.8%(24)

Slovak0.8%(24)

Danish0.6%(18)

Scottish0.4%(12)

Austrian0.3%(11)

Norwegian0.3%(11)

Finnish0.3%(10)

Portuguese0.3%(10)

Swiss0.3%(10)

West Indian0.3%(10)

RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest English population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

30.8%

−3.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 34.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

83.5%

−10.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 94.0% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

8.3%

−2.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 10.5% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

20.2 min

+40%vs 2000

vs 14.5 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married20.2%(282)

Married69.4%(967)

Widowed4.7%(65)

Divorced5.7%(80)

Women 15+

Never married18.2%(263)

Married59.6%(860)

Widowed13.4%(193)

Divorced8.9%(128)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

3.5%

−10.1 ptssince 2013

from 13.6% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

64.7%

+4.5 ptssince 2020

from 60.2% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

27.4%

+4.3 ptssince 2020

from 23.1% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

40.9%

+6.9 ptssince 2020

from 34.0% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

4.6%

−3.6 ptssince 2020

from 8.2% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

1.7%

+0.8 ptssince 2020

from 0.9% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

88.5%

+7.4 ptssince 2020

from 81.1% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

43.5%

+3.9 ptssince 2020

from 39.6% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)16.8%(49)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)2.1%(6)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era30.9%(90)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War20.6%(60)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II4.1%(12)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 291 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

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