Dare County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Dare County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 37,534. It is the 64th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dare County is 48.5 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dare County is $81,214. This is 16% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.5%. This is 43% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $425,400. Housing costs are 64% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 77.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dare County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The Black or African American population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

42.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Dare County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%.