Small-town market profile · North Carolina
Kill Devil Hills, NC area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Kill Devil Hills area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- 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
- 75
- Barbershops, #45 of 377 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Kill Devil Hills area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Kill Devil Hills area. 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
An estimated 38,245 people live in the Kill Devil Hills area, in 16,836 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Kill Devil Hills area grew 3.3%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Kill Devil Hills area is $88,994 a year, 10% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 49.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Kill Devil Hills area 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).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Kill Devil Hills area are for barbershops (75), child care centers and preschools (75) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (74). The Kill Devil Hills area ranks #45 of 377 scored small-town markets for barbershops.
The Kill Devil Hills area is made up of one county, Dare County. For its number of households, the Kill Devil Hills area 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).
All 56 business types in the Kill Devil Hills area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Kill Devil Hills area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbershops | 75 | #45 of 377 | 7 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 127 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 75 | #47 of 454 | 11 | 6.5 | $832K | 83 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 74 | #35 of 387 | 7 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 96 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 72 | #55 of 538 | 29 | 17.2 | $602K | 135 | 19 |
| Pet stores | 69 | #37 of 220 | 6 | 3.6 | $2.8M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 69 | #44 of 288 | 7 | 4.2 | $7.6M | 90 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 69 | #64 of 400 | 6 | 3.6 | $3.4M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 68 | #118 of 537 | 23 | 13.7 | $2M | 161 | 22 |
| Chiropractors | 67 | #76 of 426 | 7 | 4.2 | $3M | 123 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 64 | #137 of 538 | 63 | 37.4 | $277K | 103 | 27 |
| Tire shops | 63 | #127 of 431 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 87 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 61 | #138 of 527 | 24 | 14.3 | $711K | 81 | 12 |
| Veterinarians | 60 | #127 of 398 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.1M | 78 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 56 | #200 of 538 | 39 | 23.2 | $428K | 100 | 12 |
| Nail salons | 55 | #171 of 387 | 12 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 55 | #216 of 536 | 29 | 17.2 | $1.9M | 79 | 44 |
| Car washes and detailing | 53 | #191 of 441 | 8 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 87 | 4 |
| House cleaning | 51 | #62 of 142 | 6 | 3.6 | $4.6M | 71 | 23 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 49 | #204 of 378 | 9 | 5.3 | $1.6M | 82 | 6 |
| Physical therapy | 49 | #216 of 400 | 13 | 7.7 | $1.6M | 66 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #299 of 529 | 40 | 23.8 | $2.7M | 34 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 48 | #205 of 399 | 14 | 8.3 | $2M | 67 | 35 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #327 of 538 | 85 | 50.5 | $197K | 92 | 18 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 45 | #272 of 458 | 13 | 7.7 | $1.6M | 89 | 35 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 44 | #286 of 481 | 22 | 13.1 | $1.2M | 74 | 62 |
| Gyms | 44 | #329 of 506 | 23 | 13.7 | $645K | 50 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 43 | #331 of 526 | 19 | 11.3 | $1.1M | 111 | 16 |
| Spas and skin care | 41 | #361 of 504 | 25 | 14.8 | $668K | 76 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 40 | #83 of 112 | 14 | 8.3 | $1.1M | 26 | 5 |
| Electricians | 40 | #208 of 295 | 12 | 7.1 | $4.5M | 37 | 24 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 37 | #396 of 538 | 155 | 92.1 | $133K | 87 | 61 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 37 | #397 of 537 | 42 | 24.9 | $1.7M | 55 | 71 |
| Grocery stores | 36 | #389 of 506 | 27 | 16.0 | $4M | 43 | 18 |
| Pizza | 36 | #407 of 520 | 38 | 22.6 | $1.9M | 37 | 71 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 36 | #415 of 538 | 96 | 57.0 | $1.1M | 33 | 23 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 36 | #427 of 529 | 49 | 29.1 | $1.4M | 39 | 54 |
| Home repair trades | 36 | #430 of 526 | 46 | 27.3 | $1.2M | 48 | 77 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 36 | #432 of 535 | 46 | 27.3 | $323K | 49 | 11 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 35 | #389 of 476 | 27 | 16.0 | $2M | 42 | 50 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 35 | #410 of 536 | 88 | 52.3 | $399K | 31 | 69 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 35 | #412 of 507 | 89 | 52.9 | $797K | 19 | 59 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 35 | #415 of 536 | 110 | 65.3 | $319K | 36 | 69 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 35 | #423 of 538 | 530 | 314.8 | $134K | 36 | 261 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #427 of 538 | 282 | 167.5 | $252K | 38 | 135 |
| Real estate | 33 | #486 of 536 | 239 | 142.0 | Index only | 27 | 148 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 33 | #486 of 533 | 211 | 125.3 | Index only | 24 | 80 |
| Property management | 32 | #152 of 180 | 11 | 6.5 | Index only | 45 | 46 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 28 | #159 of 177 | 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 the Kill Devil Hills area
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 the Kill Devil Hills area
- 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 the Kill Devil Hills area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 the Kill Devil Hills area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Kill Devil Hills area 1
- Dare County, NC37,875 people
Other markets based in North Carolina 12
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area2,768,407 people
- Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area1,487,302 people
- Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area786,419 people
- Winston-Salem, NC metro area689,766 people
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area601,724 people
- Wilmington, NC metro area453,347 people
- Asheville, NC metro area414,711 people
- Fayetteville, NC metro area392,380 people
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area368,316 people
- Jacksonville, NC metro area207,906 people
- Greenville, NC metro area177,193 people
- Burlington, NC metro area176,893 people
Questions
How fast is the Kill Devil Hills, NC area growing?
Population estimates put the Kill Devil Hills area at 38,245 people in 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 16,836 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 49.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Kill Devil Hills, NC area spend?
Households in the Kill Devil Hills area spend about $275.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $108.3M on groceries and $70.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Kill Devil Hills area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 141, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (90).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Kill Devil Hills, NC area?
Of the business types scored in the Kill Devil Hills area, barbershops (75), child care centers and preschools (75) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For barbershops, that ranks #45 of 377 scored small-town markets.
How does the Kill Devil Hills, NC area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Kill Devil Hills area is $88,994, 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. 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).
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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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 the Kill Devil Hills area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Kill Devil Hills area. 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.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Kill Devil Hills area?
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 the Kill Devil Hills area. 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.