Zip code 27981: Wanchese, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27981?

27981 is assigned to Wanchese, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27981 in?

27981 is in Dare County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 27981?

About 1,969 people live in 27981, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27981?

The median household income in 27981 is $88,750.

Q: What zip codes are near 27981?

The closest zip codes to 27981 are 27959, 27954, 27948, 27953, 27978.

Residential delivery areaDare CountyEastern Time

Population

1,969

Median household income

$89K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$312K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,073/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

9.1 sq mi

216 people/sq mi

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

About 27981

27981 is a small-town zip code in Wanchese, North Carolina (Dare County), covering 9.1 sq mi of land. About 1,969 people live here, or 216 per square mile. The median resident is 36.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $88,750 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 6.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $311,800, or 3.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,073 a month.

29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 17.6 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, sales and education. 17% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 27981 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents under 1830.9%
97th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%30th of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers17%
95th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%88th of 798 in NC
Government workers21%
87th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%147th of 798 in NC
Uninsured rate12.5%
82nd
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%208th of 797 in NC
Median household income$88,750
61st
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388117th of 748 in NC
Homeownership rate69.4%
52nd
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%532nd of 788 in NC
Per capita income$39,682
49th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385246th of 799 in NC
Housing vacancy6.6%
49th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%649th of 789 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.432
47th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477387th of 781 in NC
Median home value$311,800
46th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900211th of 757 in NC
Median earnings per worker$47,055
46th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279233rd of 788 in NC
Veterans5.4%
44th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%589th of 801 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher28.8%
43rd
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%280th of 799 in NC
Residents 65 and older14.7%
36th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%601st of 802 in NC
Median age36.4
30th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1644th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$1,073
26th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228267th of 688 in NC
Poverty rate6.9%
24th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%638th of 788 in NC
Population density216/sq mi
22nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi332nd of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers7.3%
19th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%575th of 798 in NC
Diversity index16
9th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4704th of 802 in NC
Broadband access82.2%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%583rd of 788 in NC
Rent-burdened renters33%
7th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%611th of 760 in NC
Average commute17.6 min
5th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min733rd of 771 in NC
Unemployment rate2%
5th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%645th of 799 in NC
Population1,969
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404600th of 802 in NC
Work from home3.2%
3rd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%678th of 799 in NC
Foreign-born residents0.6%
3rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%694th of 802 in NC
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%700th of 798 in NC

Measure	27981	Dare	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Residents under 18	30.9%	17.9%	21.8%	22%	97th	30th of 802
Self-employed workers	17%	21.5%	9.8%	10%	95th	88th of 798
Government workers	21%	13.5%	13.8%	14.5%	87th	147th of 798
Uninsured rateWeakness	12.5%	8.6%	9.9%	8.4%	82nd	208th of 797
Median household income	$88,750	$88,994	$72,388	$80,734	61st	117th of 748
Homeownership rate	69.4%	78.4%	66.6%	65.2%	52nd	532nd of 788
Per capita income	$39,682	$56,589	$41,385	$44,673	49th	246th of 799
Housing vacancy	6.6%	52.3%	12.5%	10.1%	49th	649th of 789
Income inequality (Gini)	0.432	0.491	0.477	0.483	47th	387th of 781
Median home value	$311,800	$460,400	$288,900	$332,700	46th	211th of 757
Median earnings per worker	$47,055	$46,146	$46,279	$49,666	46th	233rd of 788
Veterans	5.4%	8.1%	7.4%	6.2%	44th	589th of 801
Bachelor's degree or higher	28.8%	43.2%	35.7%	35.7%	43rd	280th of 799
Residents 65 and older	14.7%	25.2%	17.2%	17.2%	36th	601st of 802
Median age	36.4	49	39.1	38.9	30th	644th of 802
Median gross rent	$1,073	$1,345	$1,228	$1,413	26th	267th of 688
Poverty rate	6.9%	6.6%	13%	12.5%	24th	638th of 788
Population density	216/sq mi	99/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	22nd	332nd of 802
Healthcare workers	7.3%	8%	9.5%	9.7%	19th	575th of 798
Diversity index	16	26.4	58.4	61.4	9th	704th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	82.2%	91.7%	90.1%	91%	7th	583rd of 788
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	33%	48%	48.9%	51.1%	7th	611th of 760
Average commuteStrength	17.6 min	22.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	5th	733rd of 771
Unemployment rateStrength	2%	5.9%	4.7%	5.2%	5th	645th of 799
Population	1,969	37,875	10,730,404	334,922,499	3rd	600th of 802
Work from home	3.2%	14.2%	16.3%	15.1%	3rd	678th of 799
Foreign-born residents	0.6%	4.7%	9.1%	14.1%	3rd	694th of 802
Tech workers	0%	1.5%	3.9%	3.8%	1st	700th 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

23%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

18%

35–44

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

36.4

Under 18

30.9%

65 and over

14.7%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black0.3%
Hispanic5%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

63%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 726
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 75.1%
Married couples: 55%
Living alone: 18%
Veterans (of adults): 5.4%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

28%

$50–75k

$75–100k

16%

$100–150k

26%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

27981

$88,750

Dare Co.

$88,994

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$39,682

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

6.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

15.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.432

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27981

$311,800

Dare Co.

$460,400

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27981

$1,073

Dare Co.

$1,345

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

24%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 777
Owner-occupied: 69.4%
Vacant: 6.6%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 4.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 33%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 11.2%
Home value to income: 3.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

83%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.4%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

24%

10–19

50%

20–29

15%

30–44

45–59

0.8%

60+

Average commute

17.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

79.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Sales

14%

Education

12%

Cleaning and personal care

10%

Farming, fishing and forestry

10%

Construction and repair

Healthcare

Office and admin

Food service

Transportation and moving

Production

Business and finance

Engineering and science

0.7%

Legal and social services

0.4%

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Computer and math

Police and fire

Industries

Retail

20%

Education

15%

Construction

10%

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Health care and social assistance

Manufacturing

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Information

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$47,055

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

17%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

21%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27981	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$57,366	$74,888
Service	$32,337	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,583	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$43,773	$49,199
Production and transportation	$80,729	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

42%

Some college

13%

Associate's

Bachelor's

25%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 28.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.1%
Households with broadband: 82.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 72.5%
No internet access: 9.4%
Without health insurance: 12.5%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Wanchese
State: North Carolina
County: Dare County
Center point: 35.8529° N, 75.6374° W
Land area: 9.1 sq mi
Water area: 3.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Wanchese (unincorporated)51% of zip

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

Zip codes near 27981

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27959	Nags Head, NC	3.3 mi	3,170	$91,264	$490,800
27954	Manteo, NC	4.9 mi	7,237	$80,587	$418,400
27948	Kill Devil Hills, NC	12 mi	12,436	$86,193	$437,500
27953	Manns Harbor, NC	14 mi	999	$53,250	$254,700
27978	Stumpy Point, NC	15 mi	237	$60,192	$336,400
27968	Rodanthe, NC	16 mi	781	—	—
27949	Kitty Hawk, NC	19 mi	8,251	$120,662	$677,600
27941	Harbinger, NC	20 mi	641	$50,893	$381,500
27964	Point Harbor, NC	21 mi	554	—	$330,200
27982	Waves, NC	22 mi	144	—	—
27966	Powells Point, NC	22 mi	1,540	$78,507	$347,600
27972	Salvo, NC	23 mi	229	—	—

Zip codes like 27981 elsewhere

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

Questions about 27981

What city is zip code 27981?

27981 is assigned to Wanchese, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27981 in?

27981 is in Dare County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 27981?

About 1,969 people live in 27981, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27981 in?

27981 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27981?

The median household income in 27981 is $88,750.

What zip codes are near 27981?

The closest zip codes to 27981 are 27959, 27954, 27948, 27953, 27978.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27981, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.