Manteo, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27954
Dare County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 6,111
- 267/sq mi High-density area
- $80,587
- Median income Near-median income area
- $418,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 38.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Manteo pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 37%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 19%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 267
- people per sq mi
- 82%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27954 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 27954 (Manteo, NC) rose +9.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 301.9 in 2023 to 329.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27954 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Manteo, Dare County, North Carolina, home to 6,111 residents across 22.9 square miles, a density of 267 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27954 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $80,587 (17% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $46,544. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.4% and unemployment is 2.7%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $418,400 (61% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 81.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,243.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.1, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dare County, so 27954 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 27954
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Manteo, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27954.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
53 establishments
- Construction
Construction
25 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
25 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
23 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 20
Real estate and rental and leasing
20 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 27954, Manteo, 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
6,111
Population
22.9
Area (sq mi)
267
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27954?
44.1
Median Age
47.1%
Male
52.9%
Female
5.9%
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?
$80,587
Median Household Income
+17% vs state ZIP avg
$46,544
Per Capita Income
7.4%
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27954 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Manteo, 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)
$80,587 Top 22% higher than 78% 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
3,680housing units
3,680
Total Housing Units
2,983
Occupied Units
697
Vacant Units
2.41
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$418,400
Median Home Value
+61% vs state ZIP avg
$1,243
Median Rent
1994
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
+9.2%
YoY Change (2024)
330
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+230%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27954 have increased 9.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +230% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 197 |
| 2021 | +14.8% | 226 |
| 2022 | +24.9% | 282 |
| 2023 | +6.9% | 302 |
| 2024 | +9.2% | 330 |
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 244 business establishments in ZIP 27954, employing approximately 1,512 people with a combined annual payroll of $65,046,000.
244
Businesses
1,512
Employees
$65.0M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 53 | 21.7% |
| Construction | 25 | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 25 | 10.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 9.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 8.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 18 | 7.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 17 | 7.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 13 | 5.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 5.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 4.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 6 | 2.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 1.6% |
| Information | 3 | 1.2% |
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 27954 vs 27981 →
ZIP 27954 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
- 27954
Manteo (27954)
6,111 residents
- 27959 2,789
Nags Head (27959)
2,789 residents
- 27981 1,643
Wanchese (27981)
1,643 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27954 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27954 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27959
Nags Head (27959)
$91,264 median income
- 27981
Wanchese (27981)
$88,750 median income
- 27948
Kill Devil Hills (27948)
$86,193 median income
- 27954
Manteo (27954)
$80,587 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27954 ranks #4 of 4 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 27954, 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 (6,111 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 27954 in?
ZIP code 27954 (Manteo) 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 27954?
ZIP code 27954 in Manteo, NC has a population of 6,111 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27954?
The median household income in ZIP 27954 is $80,587, which is 6% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27954?
The median home value in ZIP 27954 is $418,400, which is 50% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27954?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27954 is White at 76.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27954?
ZIP code 27954 has 244 business establishments employing approximately 1,512 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27954?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27954 are: Retail trade (53), Construction (25), Accommodation and food services (25). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27954?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27954 increased by 9.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 230%. 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 27954?
In ZIP code 27954, 63.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.0% 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 27954?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27954 is 20.2 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 27954?
In ZIP code 27954, approximately 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27954?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27954 is 7.4% 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 27954's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27954 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Manteo, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.