Dare County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Dare County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Dare County Around averageWealthier than 93% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Dare County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $89,741 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,044 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.9% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Dare County is about 24% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Dare County (6.6%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Dare County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Dare County, North Carolina grew by 70.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $89,741 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Dare County
| Metric | Dare County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.499 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,404 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,556 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.0% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Dare County, it is 0.499, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Dare County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $484,680 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dare County, North Carolina has widened from about 5% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 2% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,033 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Dare County widened by 15.4 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Dare County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.2% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,216 people are unemployed in Dare County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Dare County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Dare County, North Carolina has fallen from 6.9% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.4% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2019.
Dare County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Dare County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 37,875 residents against a local median of 10,925. Where Dare County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 105% above the local median of 2.9% at 5.9%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.6%/yr against a local median of 4.6%/yr, 43% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Dare County, NC is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 3.2% on unemployment, so Dare County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dare County, NC has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dare County, NC | 37,875 | $89,741 #3/6 | 6.6%/yr #1/6 | 5.9% #6/6 | 0.499 #1/6 |
| Tyrrell County, NC | 3,423 | $40,922 | 3.8%/yr | 2.8% | 0.522 |
| Hyde County, NC | 4,592 | $52,943 | 4.6%/yr | 2.5% | 0.589 |
| Currituck County, NC | 30,601 | $95,793 | 5.9%/yr | 2.9% | 0.509 |
| Pasquotank County, NC | 40,823 | $65,195 | 4.5%/yr | 5.7% | 0.538 |
| Camden County, NC | 10,925 | $90,531 | 5.4%/yr | 5.4% | 0.505 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Dare County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Dare County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Dare County, North Carolina?
Dare County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $89,741, about 24% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Dare County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Dare County, North Carolina rose 70%, from $52,743 to $89,741. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +70% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Dare County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Dare County, North Carolina was $82,400, up 2% from $81,086 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Dare County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Dare County, North Carolina was $64,406. By 2024 it had risen 39% to $89,741.
Do many residents of Dare County, North Carolina earn over $100,000?
Yes. 16% of adults in Dare County, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 14% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
Is it hard to find a job in Dare County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Dare County, North Carolina is 5.9%, well above the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Dare County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Dare County is 0.499. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Dare County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dare County, North Carolina has widened from about 5% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 2% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,033 since 2009.
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