Nags Head, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27959
Dare County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,789
- 73/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $91,264
- Median income Above-median income area
- $490,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 50.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Nags Head pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 26%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 13%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 73
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27959 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 27959 (Nags Head, NC) rose +6.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 328.6 in 2023 to 348.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27959 covers 38.0 square miles in Nags Head, Dare County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,789 residents on file, a density of 73 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27959 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $91,264 (32% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $59,925. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.4% and unemployment is 1.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $490,800 (89% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 82.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,005.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 58.4, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dare County, so 27959 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 27959
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Nags Head, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27959.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
107 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
70 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 42
Health care and social assistance
42 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 27
Professional, scientific, and technical services
27 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 23
Other services (except public administration)
23 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 27959, Nags Head, 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
2,789
Population
38.0
Area (sq mi)
73
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27959?
58.4
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
2.4%
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?
$91,264
Median Household Income
+32% vs state ZIP avg
$59,925
Per Capita Income
2.4%
Poverty Rate
1.0%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 27959 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Nags Head, 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)
$91,264 Top 13% higher than 87% 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
5,285housing units
5,285
Total Housing Units
1,586
Occupied Units
3,699
Vacant Units
1.95
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$490,800
Median Home Value
+89% vs state ZIP avg
$1,005
Median Rent
1987
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
+6.0%
YoY Change (2024)
348
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+248%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27959 have increased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +248% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.3% | 216 |
| 2021 | +18.3% | 256 |
| 2022 | +17.9% | 301 |
| 2023 | +9.0% | 329 |
| 2024 | +6.0% | 348 |
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 368 business establishments in ZIP 27959, employing approximately 3,528 people with a combined annual payroll of $160,551,000.
368
Businesses
3,528
Employees
$160.6M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 107 | 29.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 70 | 19.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 42 | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27 | 7.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 6.3% |
| Construction | 22 | 6.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 22 | 6.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 3.8% |
| Information | 10 | 2.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 1.4% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 0.8% |
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 27959 vs 27981 →
ZIP 27959 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 27959 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27959 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 27959 ranks the highest 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 27959, 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 (2,789 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 27959 in?
ZIP code 27959 (Nags Head) 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 27959?
ZIP code 27959 in Nags Head, NC has a population of 2,789 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27959?
The median household income in ZIP 27959 is $91,264, which is 20% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27959?
The median home value in ZIP 27959 is $490,800, which is 76% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27959?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27959 is White at 94.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27959?
ZIP code 27959 has 368 business establishments employing approximately 3,528 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27959?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27959 are: Retail trade (107), Accommodation and food services (70), Health care and social assistance (42). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27959?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27959 increased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 248%. 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 27959?
In ZIP code 27959, 63.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27959?
In ZIP code 27959, approximately 82.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 17.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27959?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27959 is 2.4% 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 27959's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27959 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Nags Head, 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.