Kitty Hawk, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27949
Dare County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 6,947
- 177/sq mi High-density area
- $120,662
- Median income Above-median income area
- $677,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 55.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Kitty Hawk pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 9%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 7%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 177
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27949 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 27949 (Kitty Hawk, NC) rose +1.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 331.7 in 2023 to 336.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27949 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Kitty Hawk, Dare County, North Carolina, home to 6,947 residents across 39.3 square miles, a density of 177 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27949 skews affluent, with a median household income of $120,662 (74% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $67,976. The poverty rate is 3.2%, with unemployment at 9.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $677,600 (161% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 83.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,306.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 55.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 55.3, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dare County, so 27949 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 27949
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Kitty Hawk, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27949.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
125 establishments
- Construction
Construction
96 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
81 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
63 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 45
Professional, scientific, and technical services
45 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27949, Kitty Hawk, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
6,947
Population
39.3
Area (sq mi)
177
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27949?
55.3
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
5.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$120,662
Median Household Income
+74% vs state ZIP avg
$67,976
Per Capita Income
3.2%
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Unemployment Rate
25.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27949 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Kitty Hawk, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$120,662 Top 5% higher than 95% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,994housing units
8,994
Total Housing Units
3,589
Occupied Units
5,405
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$677,600
Median Home Value
+161% vs state ZIP avg
$1,306
Median Rent
1988
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+1.3%
YoY Change (2024)
336
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+236%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27949 have increased 1.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +236% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.0% | 206 |
| 2021 | +14.7% | 236 |
| 2022 | +26.2% | 298 |
| 2023 | +11.2% | 332 |
| 2024 | +1.3% | 336 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 576 business establishments in ZIP 27949, employing approximately 4,717 people with a combined annual payroll of $229,232,000.
576
Businesses
4,717
Employees
$229.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 125 | 21.7% |
| Construction | 96 | 16.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 81 | 14.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 63 | 10.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 45 | 7.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 6.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 36 | 6.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 29 | 5.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 29 | 5.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 1.2% |
| Information | 6 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.0% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 5 | 0.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 27949 vs 27941 →
ZIP 27949 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27948
Kill Devil Hills (27948)
10,862 residents
- 27949
Kitty Hawk (27949)
6,947 residents
- 27939 2,361
Grandy (27939)
2,361 residents
- 27947 1,230
Jarvisburg (27947)
1,230 residents
- 27966 1,052
Powells Point (27966)
1,052 residents
- 27964 545
Point Harbor (27964)
545 residents
- 27941 536
Harbinger (27941)
536 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27949 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27949 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27949
Kitty Hawk (27949)
$120,662 median income
- 27948
Kill Devil Hills (27948)
$86,193 median income
- 27966
Powells Point (27966)
$78,507 median income
- 27947
Jarvisburg (27947)
$78,125 median income
- 27939
Grandy (27939)
$62,463 median income
- 27941
Harbinger (27941)
$50,893 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27949 ranks the highest of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27949, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (6,947 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Dare County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27949 in?
ZIP code 27949 (Kitty Hawk) is located in Dare County, North Carolina. Dare County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dare-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27949?
ZIP code 27949 in Kitty Hawk, NC has a population of 6,947 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27949?
The median household income in ZIP 27949 is $120,662, which is 58% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27949?
The median home value in ZIP 27949 is $677,600, which is 144% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27949?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27949 is White at 91.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27949?
ZIP code 27949 has 576 business establishments employing approximately 4,717 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27949?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27949 are: Retail trade (125), Construction (96), Accommodation and food services (81). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27949?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27949 increased by 1.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 236%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 27949?
In ZIP code 27949, 73.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 55.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 27949?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27949 is 25.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27949?
In ZIP code 27949, approximately 83.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27949?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27949 is 3.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 27949's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27949 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Kitty Hawk, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.