Duck, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Duck, North Carolina had a total population of 669, the 534th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $136,250, which is 88% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 88% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in North Carolina.
- 68.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in North Carolina.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.3%.
Duck Quick Facts
How Duck Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 662 | 669 | +1.1% |
| Median household income | $118,750 | $136,250 | +14.7% |
| Median home value | $705,700 | $767,500 | +8.8% |
How Duck Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Duck Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Dare County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kill Devil Hills | 7,761 | $89,773 | 9.2% | $442,200 |
| Kitty Hawk | 3,724 | $94,450 | 4.7% | $535,000 |
| Nags Head | 3,160 | $91,264 | 2.4% | $490,800 |
| Southern Shores | 3,139 | $131,429 | 0.6% | $712,300 |
| Manteo | 2,020 | $83,777 | 19.2% | $444,400 |
| Wanchese | 1,956 | $88,750 | 6.3% | $311,800 |
| Buxton | 1,267 | N/A | 6.7% | $409,900 |
| Manns Harbor | 926 | $51,800 | 25.1% | $253,000 |
| Rodanthe | 781 | N/A | 2.3% | N/A |
| Frisco | 664 | $43,846 | 1.1% | $439,600 |
Cities Similar to Duck
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexis | 635 | N/A | $196,000 | 6.8% | 0.0% |
| Potters Hill | 595 | N/A | $112,800 | 13.1% | 37.6% |
| Montreat | 630 | $115,568 | $606,400 | 91.5% | 0.0% |
| Rodanthe | 781 | N/A | N/A | 28.2% | 2.3% |
| Rougemont | 703 | $104,327 | $298,500 | 20.5% | 5.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 669, Duck's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Duck is a small community located in North Carolina, within Dare County. The total population is 669. It ranks as the 534th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Duck is 61.6 years. This is 58% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 8.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Duck is $136,250. This is 88% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 69% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.8%. This is 17% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 1.3%. This is 73% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $767,500. Housing costs are 166% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x. 88.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Duck has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.0% vs 60.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
68.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Duck in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 91% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.8%. Notably, 32.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Duck, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Duck, North Carolina?
Duck, North Carolina has a population of 669 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Duck, NC?
The median household income in Duck is $136,250, which is 69% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Duck, NC?
The poverty rate in Duck is 10.8%. This means approximately 72 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Duck, North Carolina?
Duck's population is 96.0% White, 0.0% Black, 2.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Duck, NC?
The median home value in Duck is $767,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x.
How educated is Duck, North Carolina?
68.0% of adults (25+) in Duck hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 32.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.