Zip code 27959: Nags Head, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27959?

27959 is assigned to Nags Head, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27959 in?

27959 is in Dare County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 27959?

About 3,170 people live in 27959, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27959?

The median household income in 27959 is $91,264.

Q: What zip codes are near 27959?

The closest zip codes to 27959 are 27981, 27954, 27948, 27953, 27949.

Residential delivery areaDare CountyEastern Time

Population

3,170

Median household income

$91K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$491K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,005/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

58.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

15 sq mi

216 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 27959

27959 is a small-town zip code in Nags Head, North Carolina (Dare County), covering 15 sq mi of land. About 3,170 people live here, or 216 per square mile. The median resident is 58.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $91,264 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 2.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $490,800, or 5.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 83% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,005 a month.

51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.5 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; management; and office and administrative support. 20% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 27959 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age58.4
99th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.148th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy70%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%16th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older39.9%
99th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%22nd of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers20.2%
98th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%60th of 798 in NC
Veterans10.4%
91st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%158th of 801 in NC
Rent-burdened renters64%
91st
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%89th of 760 in NC
Per capita income$59,925
85th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,38562nd of 799 in NC
Homeownership rate82.8%
85th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%216th of 788 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher50.9%
80th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%92nd of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$60,603
76th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,27964th of 788 in NC
Median home value$490,800
74th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,90056th of 757 in NC
Broadband access94.2%
68th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%141st of 788 in NC
Median household income$91,264
63rd
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388100th of 748 in NC
Work from home10.9%
40th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%331st of 799 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.413
31st
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477507th of 781 in NC
Average commute22.5 min
26th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min589th of 771 in NC
Population density216/sq mi
22nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi333rd of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$1,005
22nd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228308th of 688 in NC
Uninsured rate3.5%
17th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%727th of 797 in NC
Government workers9.6%
16th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%651st of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents2.4%
14th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%546th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers6%
8th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%651st of 798 in NC
Diversity index12.3
6th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4737th of 802 in NC
Population3,170
5th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404512th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1811.3%
3rd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%711th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate1%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%688th of 799 in NC
Poverty rate2.4%
1st
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%756th of 788 in NC
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%696th of 798 in NC

Measure	27959	Dare	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	58.4	49	39.1	38.9	99th	48th of 802
Housing vacancy	70%	52.3%	12.5%	10.1%	99th	16th of 789
Residents 65 and older	39.9%	25.2%	17.2%	17.2%	99th	22nd of 802
Self-employed workers	20.2%	21.5%	9.8%	10%	98th	60th of 798
Veterans	10.4%	8.1%	7.4%	6.2%	91st	158th of 801
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	64%	48%	48.9%	51.1%	91st	89th of 760
Per capita incomeStrength	$59,925	$56,589	$41,385	$44,673	85th	62nd of 799
Homeownership rateStrength	82.8%	78.4%	66.6%	65.2%	85th	216th of 788
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	50.9%	43.2%	35.7%	35.7%	80th	92nd of 799
Median earnings per worker	$60,603	$46,146	$46,279	$49,666	76th	64th of 788
Median home value	$490,800	$460,400	$288,900	$332,700	74th	56th of 757
Broadband access	94.2%	91.7%	90.1%	91%	68th	141st of 788
Median household income	$91,264	$88,994	$72,388	$80,734	63rd	100th of 748
Work from home	10.9%	14.2%	16.3%	15.1%	40th	331st of 799
Income inequality (Gini)	0.413	0.491	0.477	0.483	31st	507th of 781
Average commute	22.5 min	22.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	26th	589th of 771
Population density	216/sq mi	99/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	22nd	333rd of 802
Median gross rent	$1,005	$1,345	$1,228	$1,413	22nd	308th of 688
Uninsured rateStrength	3.5%	8.6%	9.9%	8.4%	17th	727th of 797
Government workers	9.6%	13.5%	13.8%	14.5%	16th	651st of 798
Foreign-born residents	2.4%	4.7%	9.1%	14.1%	14th	546th of 802
Healthcare workers	6%	8%	9.5%	9.7%	8th	651st of 798
Diversity index	12.3	26.4	58.4	61.4	6th	737th of 802
Population	3,170	37,875	10,730,404	334,922,499	5th	512th of 802
Residents under 18	11.3%	17.9%	21.8%	22%	3rd	711th of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	1%	5.9%	4.7%	5.2%	2nd	688th of 799
Poverty rateStrength	2.4%	6.6%	13%	12.5%	1st	756th of 788
Tech workers	0%	1.5%	3.9%	3.8%	1st	696th of 798

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

35–44

10%

45–54

16%

55–64

27%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

58.4

Under 18

11.3%

65 and over

39.9%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black0.7%
Hispanic3%
Asian1%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

12.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

22.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.6%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,586
Average household size: 2
Family households: 56.7%
Married couples: 50.8%
Living alone: 31.7%
Veterans (of adults): 10.4%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

18%

Median household income

27959

$91,264

Dare Co.

$88,994

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$59,925

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

2.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

25.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.413

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27959

$490,800

Dare Co.

$460,400

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27959

$1,005

Dare Co.

$1,345

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

81%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 5,285
Owner-occupied: 82.8%
Vacant: 70%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 64%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 10.7%
Home value to income: 5.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

84%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.3%

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

0.3%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

39%

10–19

27%

20–29

17%

30–44

45–59

60+

14%

Average commute

22.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

17%

Management

16%

Office and admin

12%

Transportation and moving

Business and finance

Construction and repair

Healthcare

Production

Police and fire

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Food service

Education

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

0.8%

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Restaurants and hotels

15%

Retail

13%

Finance, insurance and real estate

11%

Manufacturing

11%

Construction

Health care and social assistance

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Admin, support and management

Education

Other services

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

0.8%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

0.6%

Information

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$60,603

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

20.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

9.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27959	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$89,375	$74,888
Service	$33,698	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,224	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$24,174	$49,199
Production and transportation	$27,137	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

12%

Some college

28%

Associate's

Bachelor's

36%

Graduate

15%

High school graduate or higher: 94.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 50.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 15.1%
Households with broadband: 94.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 91.6%
No internet access: 5%
Without health insurance: 3.5%
Limited-English households: 0.7%

Geography

City (USPS): Nags Head
State: North Carolina
County: Dare County
Center point: 35.8919° N, 75.6034° W
Land area: 15 sq mi
Water area: 14 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Nags Head45% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 27959

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27981	Wanchese, NC	3.3 mi	1,969	$88,750	$311,800
27954	Manteo, NC	4.8 mi	7,237	$80,587	$418,400
27948	Kill Devil Hills, NC	10 mi	12,436	$86,193	$437,500
27953	Manns Harbor, NC	16 mi	999	$53,250	$254,700
27949	Kitty Hawk, NC	17 mi	8,251	$120,662	$677,600
27968	Rodanthe, NC	17 mi	781	—	—
27978	Stumpy Point, NC	18 mi	237	$60,192	$336,400
27941	Harbinger, NC	19 mi	641	$50,893	$381,500
27964	Point Harbor, NC	20 mi	554	—	$330,200
27966	Powells Point, NC	21 mi	1,540	$78,507	$347,600
27947	Jarvisburg, NC	24 mi	1,028	$78,125	$312,000
27982	Waves, NC	24 mi	144	—	—

Zip codes like 27959 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Saint Simons Island, GA

Questions about 27959

What city is zip code 27959?

27959 is assigned to Nags Head, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27959 in?

27959 is in Dare County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 27959?

About 3,170 people live in 27959, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27959 in?

27959 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27959?

The median household income in 27959 is $91,264.

What zip codes are near 27959?

The closest zip codes to 27959 are 27981, 27954, 27948, 27953, 27949.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27959, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.