The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 27948 sells for about $575,953, or $352 per square foot.
Prices are down 2.7% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 48 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,673 a month.
ZIP 27948 — Kill Devil Hills
The Kitty Hawk housing market is currently experiencing a slight cooling trend, evidenced by a year-over-year price decline and increased days on market. High interest rates and seasonal volatility in the vacation-rental market are primary drivers of this shift. Inventory remains tight, keeping prices elevated despite the softening demand.
This ZIP is ideal for vacation-home buyers, retirees, and families seeking a coastal lifestyle, though it is less suited for commuters due to the distance from major employment hubs.
Median prices moved down 2.7% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 48 days on market with 4.7 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
19% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 7.9% · poverty 8.6% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 27948, Dare County NC
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime rates in Kitty Hawk are generally low, with property crime being the primary concern; the area remains safer than the national average and comparable to other coastal North Carolina communities.
Public schools serving the area are part of the Dare County Schools system, which generally maintains high performance ratings and strong community support.
The area faces significant exposure to hurricane-force winds, storm surge, and coastal flooding, necessitating high property insurance premiums and adherence to strict building codes.
Economic momentum is driven primarily by seasonal tourism and the service industry, with limited large-scale industrial development due to the town's coastal geography and conservation efforts.
Property taxes are levied by Dare County and the Town of Kitty Hawk; the structure includes a base ad valorem rate with no significant local income-linked exemptions for residential owners.
Commuting is primarily via NC-12 or US-158, with traffic congestion peaking during the summer tourist season; there is no significant public transit infrastructure.
The area features extensive public beach access, the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve for hiking, and proximity to local golf courses and shopping centers in neighboring towns.
The rental market is heavily influenced by short-term vacation rentals, which creates high seasonal vacancy pressure and limits long-term housing availability for residents.
The local economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism, hospitality, and retail services, with minimal corporate or industrial presence.
Transportation is dominated by private vehicle use on the primary coastal highway corridors; there is no rail or significant public transit.
Development is strictly regulated by coastal management policies, focusing on low-density residential and small-scale commercial projects.
Parcels are subject to Dare County property taxes and specific municipal service districts for fire and emergency services.
Property insurance is costly and difficult to secure due to high-risk flood and wind zones, often requiring participation in state-backed insurance pools.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 27948 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A large protected area offering hiking and wildlife viewing.
Miles of public shoreline serving as the primary local attraction.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.