The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 27953 sells for about $425,000, or $215 per square foot.
Prices are up +3.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 62 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,248 a month.
ZIP 27953 — Manns Harbor
The housing market in 27953 remains stable with low inventory and moderate price appreciation. Demand is driven by local residents and those seeking coastal living, though high insurance costs and limited land availability constrain rapid growth.
This ZIP is best suited for families and individuals seeking a quiet, rural coastal lifestyle who are comfortable with the risks and seasonal fluctuations of living in a sound-side community.
Median prices moved up 3.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 62 days on market with 8.4 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
13% 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 9.1% · poverty 23.2% — a mixed stability 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 6.3%/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 4.9%/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 27953, 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 Manns Harbor are generally low, consistent with the rural character of Dare County and significantly lower than national urban averages.
Schools serving the area are part of the Dare County Schools system, which generally maintains solid performance ratings compared to state averages.
The area is highly susceptible to coastal flooding, storm surge, and hurricane-force winds, necessitating mandatory flood insurance for many properties in low-lying zones.
Economic momentum is driven by tourism, maritime industries, and proximity to the Outer Banks, with limited large-scale industrial development.
Property taxes are levied by Dare County and the state of North Carolina; there are no municipal property taxes in unincorporated Manns Harbor, though special fire and service district levies apply.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with residents traveling via US-64 toward Manteo or the Outer Banks for employment.
The area offers extensive access to the Croatan Sound for boating and fishing, with proximity to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and local community parks.
The rental market is heavily influenced by seasonal demand and short-term vacation rentals, leading to limited long-term inventory and upward pressure on year-round rents.
The local economy is anchored by tourism, commercial fishing, and service-sector jobs supporting the broader Outer Banks region.
Development is strictly regulated by coastal management policies, with minimal large-scale commercial pipeline activity.
Parcels are subject to Dare County property taxes and specific fire district assessments.
Insurance premiums are high due to significant wind and flood risk, with many properties requiring coverage through the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 27953 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.
Local community park providing recreational space and waterfront access.
Primary area for local boating, fishing, and water-based recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.