Dare County, North Carolina Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Dare County, North Carolina, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Dare County, North Carolina. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Dare County, North Carolina. The estimated population of Dare County, North Carolina is 36,718 people, with a median age of 47.8.

We can look at the total population in Dare County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
36,718
+0.05%
+3.69%
2020
36,698
+1.31%
-
2019
36,222
+1.35%
-
2018
35,741
+0.93%
-
2017
35,412
 - -

Population of Dare County, North Carolina by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
85.9%
87.6%
 -1.94%
Black/African American
3.1%
1.8%
 +72.22%
Native
0.1%
0.3%
 -66.67%
Hispanic
7.6%
7.1%
 +7.04%
Asian
0.5%
0.6%
 -16.67%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.1%
2.3%
 -8.70%
Other
0.7%
0.3%
 +133.33%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Dare County, North Carolina by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 47.8 +0.63% 46.7 +1.74% 48.8 0%
2020 47.5 +2.15% 45.9 +1.55% 48.8 +1.24%
2019 46.5 +0.87% 45.2 +0.22% 48.2 +1.47%
2018 46.1 +0.22% 45.1 0% 47.5 +0.42%
2017 46 - 45.1 - 47.3 -

The median age of Dare County, North Carolina gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,848 +3.68% 1,981 -37.99% 1,913 1,327
10 to 19 1,896 +13.16% 1,796 +16.1% 2,149 2,096
20 to 29 1,790 -5.08% 1,655 -1.79% 1,697 1,625
30 to 39 2,034 -5.32% 2,134 -16.01% 1,895 1,805
40 to 49 2,326 +9.72% 2,259 +10.26% 2,549 2,489
50 to 59 2,811 -5.59% 2,997 -5.34% 2,650 2,833
60 to 69 2,599 +19.8% 2,871 +14.39% 3,151 3,305
70+ 2,137 +14.23% 2,278 +20.53% 2,456 2,778

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Dare County, North Carolina is $69,500.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Dare County.

  • Under 25
    $44,148.00
  • 25 to 44
    $67,863.00
  • 45 to 64
    $77,890.00
  • 65 and over
    $67,311.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Dare County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Dare County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Dare County, North Carolina is currently $94,935.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

8.26% of households in Dare County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Dare County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    10.61%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    21.75%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    21.97%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.06%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.22%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.13%
  • $200,000 or more
    8.26%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Dare County is $41,148.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Dare County by the total population of Dare County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Dare County, North Carolina, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Dare County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    16.58%
  • Bachelor's degree
    41.82%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    9.80%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    29.68%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.13%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Dare County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Dare County over the age of 16 is 30,669.

Of those people, a total of 65.50% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Dare County is 61.20%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,436 55.80% 21.90%
20 to 24 years 1,696 93.80% 5.30%
25 to 29 years 1,626 92.10% 7.10%
30 to 34 years 1,706 86.20% 19.90%
35 to 44 years 4,478 87.20% 3.20%
45 to 54 years 5,093 85.10% 4.30%
55 to 59 years 2,944 84.70% 6.50%
60 to 64 years 3,641 60.00% 0.90%
65 to 74 years 5,410 28.20% 4.60%
75 years and over 2,639 10.90% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Dare County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 27,645 65.20% 5.00%
Black or African American 912 67.50% 11.70%
American Indian and Alaska Native 64 65.60% 0.00%
Asian 172 58.10% 14.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 10 100.00% 100.00%
Other 773 65.20% 7.70%
Two or more races 1,093 72.60% 21.80%
Hispanic or Latino 1,783 75.30% 8.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 26,986 64.80% 4.80%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Dare County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Dare County is 18,776, with median earnings of $36,875.00.

Women in Dare County, North Carolina earning approximately 78.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 18,776 $36,875.00
Male 9,425 $40,837.00
Female 9,351 $32,150.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 2,512 $59,242.00
Business and Financial 783 $73,078.00
Computer and Mathematical 358 $93,026.00
Architecture and Engineering 254 $77,736.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 147 $68,750.00
Community and Social Service 260 $33,250.00
Legal 128 $60,875.00
Educational and Library 1,200 $41,870.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 417 $26,097.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,228 $61,115.00
Healthcare Support 158 $4,914.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 145 $71,396.00
Law Enforcement 68 $48,529.00
Food Preparation and Serving 1,599 $19,883.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 1,018 $22,900.00
Personal Care and Service 344 $33,295.00
Sales 2,412 $31,299.00
Office and Administrative Support 2,021 $28,857.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 390 $38,587.00
Construction and Extraction 1,274 $30,357.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 635 $38,750.00
Production 765 $35,687.00
Transportation and Material Moving 404 $25,556.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 1,423 $70,179.00 1,089 $45,536.00
Business and Financial 281 $98,017.00 502 $60,431.00
Computer and Mathematical 307 $105,625.00 51 $59,476.00
Architecture and Engineering 254 $77,736.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 130 $68,333.00 17 $103,958.00
Community and Social Service 92 $39,583.00 168 $32,045.00
Legal 85 $61,656.00 43 $37,083.00
Educational and Library 179 $60,972.00 1,021 $40,902.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 170 $33,500.00 247 $25,995.00
Healthcare Practitioners 337 $69,205.00 891 $60,472.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 158 $4,914.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 133 $71,646.00 12 $0.00
Law Enforcement 61 $49,044.00 7 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 708 $19,118.00 891 $20,160.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 535 $30,183.00 483 $14,383.00
Personal Care and Service 163 $55,103.00 181 $21,012.00
Sales 968 $31,852.00 1,444 $30,842.00
Office and Administrative Support 293 $30,186.00 1,728 $28,750.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 367 $38,614.00 23 $24,875.00
Construction and Extraction 1,224 $30,286.00 50 $32,969.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 577 $38,514.00 58 $0.00
Production 599 $37,165.00 166 $20,521.00
Transportation and Material Moving 383 $26,118.00 21 $24,219.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 15,832 households in Dare County, with an average household size of 2.31 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 10,216 families in Dare County with an average family size of 2.78 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 8,025 603 1,588 5,616
Average Household Size 2.86 2.89 3.01 1.26
Total Families 8,025 603 1,588 0
Average Household Size 2.84 2.52 2.58 0

Poverty

Of the 10,216 families in Dare County, 3.80% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Dare County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 34,210 housing units in Dare County, North Carolina.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 15,832 46.28%
Vacant 18,378 53.72%

9.70% of the total 34,210 housing units in Dare County are rental units. This is approximately 3,318 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 12,221 are occupied by the owner - or 35.72% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Dare County is $1,171.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Dare County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    293
  • Less than $500
    203
  • $500 to $999
    804
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    1,325
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    724
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    196
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    17
  • $3,000 or more
    49

Property Value

The median value of a property in Dare County is $321,400.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Dare County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    456
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    218
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    403
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,069
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    3,381
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    4,640
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    1,780
  • $1,000,000 or more
    274

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Dare County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Dare County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    955
  • 1940 to 1949
    341
  • 1950 to 1959
    854
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,604
  • 1970 to 1979
    5,358
  • 1980 to 1989
    11,615
  • 1990 to 1999
    5,951
  • 2000 to 2009
    6,066
  • 2010 to 2013
    1,466
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Dare County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    376
  • 1 vehicle available
    4,317
  • 2 vehicles available
    7,010
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    4,129

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Dare County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Dare County that commute to work in a particular way.

23 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Dare County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    1,264
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    2,923
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,915
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    2,317
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,944
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    901
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,754
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    264
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    334
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    663
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    677
  • 90 or more minutes
    664

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Dare County, North Carolina in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Dare County, North Carolina

We have data for 20 places in Dare County, North Carolina. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.