Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Dare County, NC

Welcome to Dare County.

← Back to search

Dare County is the largest by geography, among 100 counties in North Carolina.

Total GDP for the county increased 35%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $3.1 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Dare County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Dare County comprises Kill Devil Hills, NC micropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Kill Devil Hills.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Currituck County, Hyde County, and Tyrrell County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
42.99%56.15%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
39.46%60.1%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
44.74%53.99%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
41.13%57.02%+
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
36.83%58.44%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
40.99%57.51%+
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

← Back to search

Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%35%
Government
Enterprises
10%19%
Private Industries90%36%
Agriculture<1%3%
Mining<1%0%
Utilities<1%32%
Construction7%19%
Manufacturing10%-30%
– Durable9%-34%
– Nondurable<1%100%
Trade11%45%
– Wholesale2%-7%
– Retail10%56%
Transportation1%0%
Information1%2%
Finance & Insurance5%24%
Real Estate29%0%
Professional &
Business Services
5%55%
Educational Services<1%39%
Healthcare &
Social Services
3%33%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%41%
Accommodation &
Food Services
11%35%
Other Services22%46%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

← Back to search

Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers437
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
2479
📺 Electronics & Appliance
🛒 Grocery Stores4186
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores1579
⚕️ Health & Personal Care1772
⛽ Gasoline Stations4185
👕 Clothing Stores5886
👠 Shoe Stores759
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry550
🏸 Sporting Goods3491
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers564
🏬 Department Stores1372
💐 Florists349
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops5395
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns
🍽️ Full-service restaurants13490
🍔 Limited-service restaurants7582
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers8686
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation6894
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

← Back to search

Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%118%$361,600 N/A
Top 20%45%$227,000 More than $250,000
Next highest 20%24%$120,700 $143,700
Middle 20%17%$84,500 $103,400
Second lowest 20%11%$54,800 $69,000
Bottom 20%4%$21,800 $38,000
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries75%$92,000
Self-Employment17%$44,300
Investment Income125%$15,100
Social Security33%$23,400
Supplemental Security3%$14,600
Public Assistance2%Below $10,000
Retirement29%$36,800
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%1%2%4%
$25K
– $49K
1%4%7%7%
$50K
– $99K
1%10%12%11%
$100K
– $199K
<1%5%14%9%
$200K
& more
<1%2%5%3%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

← Back to search

Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$55,800 $37,700
African-American$41,200 $37,300
Hispanic$51,100 $33,300
Asian$44,800
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$35,400 $21,300
Highschool & GED$51,200 $33,000
Some College to
Associate’s
$68,900 $36,800
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$67,300 $52,100
Graduate Degree$84,700 $73,700
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$79,200 $51,700
STEM2$109,300 $73,000
Gray-Collar3$55,300 $34,600
Pink-Collar4$19,400 $29,300
Sales5$42,300 $37,900
Blue-Collar6$55,100 $36,900
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

← Back to search

Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding+$
Cold Waves
Drought
Earthquake+
Hail+$
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane++$$$$
Ice Storm+$
Landslide+$
Lightning++$
Riverine Flooding++$$
Strong Wind+$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+$
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

← Back to search