Dare County is a county of 37,875 people in North Carolina. The median age is 49.0, about 10 years above the US median. Few US counties rank higher on income. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. The population is up 26% since 2000. 5% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $88,994, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 97%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Dare County
What changed most since 1990
Median age35.2 → 49.0(+13.8 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
White share94.8% → 85.4%(−9.4 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree21.4% → 43.2%(+21.9 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
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)25.1%(626)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.7%(616)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era36.9%(921)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.6%(140)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.4%(34)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,498 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Dare County, decade by decade
Dare County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
22,746
$70,375
$259,927
21.4%
12.4
2000
29,967
$77,258
$234,265
27.7%
15.5
2010
33,920
$77,523
$492,135
32.1%
26.2
2020
36,915
$79,292
$360,218
38.3%
30.8
2024
37,875
$88,994
$460,400
43.2%
32.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
