County profile · North Carolina
Dare County, NC market data
How Dare County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 38,245
- +3.3% since 2020
- Households
- 16,836
- Median household income
- $88,994
- +49.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $460,400
- Jobs located here
- 17,198
- Highest market score
- 68
- Child care and preschools, #329 of 1,611 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Dare County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Dare County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Dare County has an estimated 38,245 people and 16,836 households. Population estimates put the population change in Dare County from 2020 to 2025 at +3.3%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Dare County is $88,994, 10% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 49.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dare County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (90).
Of the business types scored in Dare County, child care centers and preschools (68), barbershops (66) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (65) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For child care centers and preschools, that ranks #329 of 1,611 scored counties.
Dare County is part of the Kill Devil Hills area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for bakeries and dessert shops (5.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for auto repair shops (20% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Dare County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Dare County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #329 of 1,611 | 11 | 6.5 | $832K | 83 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 66 | #307 of 1,356 | 7 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 127 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 65 | #356 of 1,461 | 7 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 96 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 65 | #516 of 2,378 | 29 | 17.2 | $602K | 135 | 19 |
| Roofing and gutters | 63 | #310 of 1,177 | 7 | 4.2 | $7.6M | 90 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 63 | #685 of 2,272 | 23 | 13.7 | $2M | 161 | 22 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 61 | #397 of 1,302 | 6 | 3.6 | $3.4M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 61 | #432 of 1,490 | 7 | 4.2 | $3M | 123 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 55 | #651 of 1,530 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 87 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 55 | #874 of 2,200 | 24 | 14.3 | $711K | 81 | 12 |
| Auto repair and car care | 55 | #983 of 2,401 | 63 | 37.4 | $277K | 103 | 27 |
| Veterinarians | 51 | #719 of 1,485 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.1M | 78 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #1,190 of 2,339 | 39 | 23.2 | $428K | 100 | 12 |
| Pet stores | 49 | #511 of 974 | 6 | 3.6 | $2.8M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 48 | #764 of 1,328 | 12 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 47 | #1,314 of 2,358 | 29 | 17.2 | $1.9M | 79 | 44 |
| Car washes and detailing | 46 | #827 of 1,451 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 87 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 46 | #834 of 1,422 | 13 | 7.7 | $1.6M | 66 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 45 | #1,320 of 2,261 | 40 | 23.8 | $2.7M | 34 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #1,161 of 1,886 | 19 | 11.3 | $1.1M | 111 | 16 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 43 | #868 of 1,334 | 9 | 5.3 | $1.6M | 82 | 6 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 43 | #923 of 1,493 | 14 | 8.3 | $2M | 67 | 35 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 43 | #1,585 of 2,385 | 85 | 50.5 | $197K | 92 | 18 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 42 | #1,088 of 1,656 | 13 | 7.7 | $1.6M | 89 | 35 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,227 of 1,771 | 22 | 13.1 | $1.2M | 74 | 62 |
| Gyms | 40 | #1,254 of 1,792 | 23 | 13.7 | $645K | 50 | 5 |
| House cleaning | 39 | #621 of 847 | 6 | 3.6 | $4.6M | 71 | 23 |
| Spas and skin care | 38 | #1,335 of 1,769 | 25 | 14.8 | $668K | 76 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 36 | #630 of 777 | 14 | 8.3 | $1.1M | 26 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 35 | #1,898 of 2,394 | 155 | 92.1 | $133K | 87 | 61 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #1,692 of 2,088 | 46 | 27.3 | $323K | 49 | 11 |
| Grocery stores | 33 | #1,586 of 2,070 | 27 | 16.0 | $4M | 43 | 18 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 33 | #1,761 of 2,222 | 42 | 24.9 | $1.7M | 55 | 71 |
| Electricians | 32 | #961 of 1,160 | 12 | 7.1 | $4.5M | 37 | 24 |
| Pizza | 32 | #1,747 of 2,090 | 38 | 22.6 | $1.9M | 37 | 71 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 32 | #1,914 of 2,402 | 96 | 57.0 | $1.1M | 33 | 23 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 31 | #1,732 of 2,063 | 49 | 29.1 | $1.4M | 39 | 54 |
| Home repair trades | 31 | #1,832 of 2,057 | 46 | 27.3 | $1.2M | 48 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 31 | #1,837 of 2,210 | 110 | 65.3 | $319K | 36 | 69 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 31 | #2,007 of 2,405 | 530 | 314.8 | $134K | 36 | 261 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 31 | #2,025 of 2,405 | 282 | 167.5 | $252K | 38 | 135 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 30 | #1,498 of 1,707 | 27 | 16.0 | $2M | 42 | 50 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 30 | #1,631 of 1,889 | 89 | 52.9 | $797K | 19 | 59 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 30 | #1,734 of 2,087 | 88 | 52.3 | $399K | 31 | 69 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 29 | #2,071 of 2,176 | 211 | 125.3 | Index only | 24 | 80 |
| Real estate | 29 | #2,113 of 2,229 | 239 | 142.0 | Index only | 27 | 148 |
| Property management | 26 | #835 of 910 | 11 | 6.5 | Index only | 45 | 46 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 25 | #843 of 887 | 15 | 8.9 | Index only | 47 | 11 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $8.7M | Too few | 6 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $1.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $17.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $13.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $35.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $20.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Dare County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.5M | $1,037 | 108 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $54.4M | $3,234 | 125 |
| Food away from home | $70.9M | $4,213 | 104 |
| Groceries | $108.3M | $6,435 | 102 |
| Personal care products and services | $16.7M | $992 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $9.2M | $544 | 94 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $14.8M | $882 | 90 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.7M | $1,227 | 95 |
| Pets | $17.1M | $1,013 | 111 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $35.1M | $2,085 | 101 |
| Vehicle insurance | $46.5M | $2,759 | 141 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $53.5M | $3,175 | 105 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $27.4M | $1,627 | 115 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $275.7M | $16,377 | 98 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Dare County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 38,245+3.3% since 2020
- Households
- 16,836
- Median age
- 49.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 383 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 99
- Median household income
- $88,994+49.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $129,955
- Median home value
- $460,400
- Jobs located here
- 17,198
- Daytime population
- 38,549Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Dare County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Dare County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
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- Currituck County, NC30,601 people
- Pasquotank County, NC40,834 people
- Camden County, NC10,927 people
- Perquimans County, NC13,244 people
- Hyde County, NC4,592 people
- Chowan County, NC13,836 people
- Washington County, NC10,812 people
Questions
How fast is Dare County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Dare County at 38,245 people in 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 16,836 households. Median household income rose 49.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Dare County, NC spend?
Households in Dare County spend about $275.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $108.3M on groceries and $70.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Dare County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (90).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Dare County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Dare County are for child care centers and preschools (68), barbershops (66) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (65). Dare County ranks #329 of 1,611 scored counties for child care centers and preschools.
How does Dare County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Dare County is $88,994 a year, 10% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $460,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Dare County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for bakeries and dessert shops (5.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for auto repair shops (20% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 48 of the 56 business types have a score in Dare County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Dare County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Dare County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Dare County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.