The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 27981 sells for about $360,297, or $178 per square foot.
Prices are down 4.2% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 112 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,073 a month.
ZIP 27981 — Wanchese
The housing market in 27981 is characterized by low inventory and slow sales velocity, typical of a rural coastal county. Prices have seen volatility due to the small sample size of transactions, but the market remains generally affordable compared to regional hubs. Demand is stable but limited by the area's remote location and lack of major employment centers.
This ZIP is best suited for retirees, outdoor enthusiasts, and those seeking a quiet, low-cost rural lifestyle away from urban centers.
Median prices moved down 4.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 112 days on market with 7.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.0% · poverty 6.9% — 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 10.6%/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 4.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 27981, Tyrrell 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 this rural area are generally low compared to state and national averages, with property crime being the primary concern.
Schools serving this area are part of the Tyrrell County school system, which maintains a small-town educational environment with limited extracurricular offerings.
The area faces significant flood risk due to its low-lying coastal plain geography and proximity to the Albemarle Sound, necessitating flood insurance for many properties.
Economic momentum is limited, with the local economy primarily driven by agriculture, forestry, and seasonal tourism rather than large-scale industrial development.
Property taxes are levied at the county level by Tyrrell County, which sets the ad valorem rate applied to assessed property values; no municipal taxes apply in unincorporated areas.
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents often traveling to larger employment hubs in neighboring counties via US-64.
Recreation is centered on outdoor activities, including fishing, hunting, and boating on the Albemarle Sound and nearby wildlife refuges.
The rental market is characterized by low inventory and limited turnover, with demand primarily driven by local workers and seasonal residents.
The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, forestry, and government services, with limited private-sector industrial growth.
Transportation infrastructure is limited to rural highway networks, with US-64 serving as the primary artery for regional connectivity.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in this ZIP.
The Tyrrell County Tax Assessor conducts periodic revaluations to determine property tax assessments based on market value.
Parcels are served by the Tyrrell County School District and local fire/emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are elevated due to the high risk of wind and flood damage associated with coastal storm events.
The state experiences net positive domestic migration, though rural counties like Tyrrell often see stagnant or declining population trends.
North Carolina is a non-judicial foreclosure state, allowing for a relatively streamlined process for lenders.
Sellers are required to provide a residential property disclosure statement covering the condition of the home and known defects.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA-level tables.
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 vast protected area offering hiking, bird watching, and wildlife observation.
Provides extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and water-based recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass. Coherence hold-out: this pass's median rent ($925) sat outside the 0.25–4× band around Dare County's retained level and was not stored.