The Town FilesDuck, North Carolina
Town in Dare County · population 742 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $767,500
- Household income
- $136,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 61.6
Duck is a town of 742 people in Dare County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $767,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 97% of North Carolina towns.
How Duck ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Duck is worth $767,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $136,250, which is more affordable than 9% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,500 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Duck | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $767,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,500 | $969 |
| Median household income | $136,250 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.9% | — |
Who lives in Duck
| People | Duck | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 8.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 50.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Duck
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Duck since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 16, 2011 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on June 25, 2004.
Severe weather in Dare County since 1996
Dare County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Dare County
Dare County had 20,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,480 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Duck itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Duck
- Southern Shores, NC5.0 mi · 3,090 people · home $712,300
- Grandy, NC7.8 mi · 2,776 people · home $306,000
- Kitty Hawk, NC8.3 mi · 3,689 people · home $535,000
- Kill Devil Hills, NC12.6 mi · 7,656 people · home $442,200
- Nags Head, NC18.0 mi · 3,168 people · home $490,800
- Manns Harbor, NC20.0 mi · 790 people · home $253,000
- Manteo, NC20.7 mi · 1,600 people · home $444,400
- Wanchese, NC24.7 mi · 1,522 people · home $311,800
Duck questions
Is Duck, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Duck scores better for retirees than 96% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 97%. 40.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.6).
How much does a house cost in Duck?
The median owner-occupied home in Duck is valued at $767,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,250, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $1,500 a month.
What is the weather like in Duck?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Duck get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Duck since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)