Cost of Living in Dare County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Dare County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Dare County ranks #2,806 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 11%)
Sourced county brief
Dare County Median Home Value Estimated at $460,400
The median home value in Dare County is $460,400, which is $225,088 above the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $235,312. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,345 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $977 by $368. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $1,471, which is $544 above the state unweighted county mean of $927. The official rent burden GRAPI, based on ACS table B25071, is 28.9%. This canonical rent-to-income percentage matches the North Carolina unweighted county mean of 28.9%. Renter households in the county have a median income of $68,881. These data points are part of the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Dare County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.9% of renter household income in Dare County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,345 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,471. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $53,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Dare County's $1,345 median is 37.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Dare County
Rent Burden
18.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,077
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.8%
of gross income
The median home in Dare County may be a stretch
Median home value is $460,400. Estimated monthly cost: $3,676 vs. your max of $2,077.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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