Ocracoke, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ocracoke, North Carolina had a total population of 723, the 520th largest community in North Carolina, with a median household income of $77,583, which is 7% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.9%.
Ocracoke Quick Facts
How Ocracoke 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 | 709 | 723 | +2.0% |
| Median home value | $472,200 | $456,200 | -3.4% |
How Ocracoke 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+)
Ocracoke Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Hyde County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Quarter | 458 | $71,289 | 30.6% | $122,100 |
| Engelhard | 174 | $50,673 | 16.1% | N/A |
| Fairfield | 81 | $46,250 | 39.5% | $187,500 |
Cities Similar to Ocracoke
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winfall | 697 | $77,083 | $401,200 | 17.7% | 13.6% |
| Rodanthe | 781 | N/A | N/A | 28.2% | 2.3% |
| Cashiers | 683 | $73,750 | $346,200 | 44.8% | 0.0% |
| Deercroft | 718 | $91,036 | $379,400 | 27.7% | 0.0% |
| JAARS | 715 | $65,777 | $9,999 | 40.6% | 27.8% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 723, Ocracoke'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
Ocracoke is a small community located in North Carolina, within Hyde County. The total population is 723. It ranks as the 520th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ocracoke is 49.8 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ocracoke is $77,583. This is 7% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 4% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 81% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $456,200. Housing costs are 58% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 76.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Ocracoke is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.9%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 20.0%.
Education
39.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% 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 94.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Ocracoke, 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.
Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ocracoke, North Carolina?
Ocracoke, North Carolina has a population of 723 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Ocracoke, NC?
The median household income in Ocracoke is $77,583, which is 4% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Ocracoke, NC?
The poverty rate in Ocracoke is 16.7%. This means approximately 121 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Ocracoke, North Carolina?
Ocracoke's population is 84.7% White, 0.4% Black, 14.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Ocracoke, NC?
The median home value in Ocracoke is $456,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x.
How educated is Ocracoke, North Carolina?
39.7% of adults (25+) in Ocracoke hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.