The Town FilesManns Harbor, North Carolina
Community in Dare County · population 790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,000
- Household income
- $51,800
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 45.2
Manns Harbor is a community of 790 people in Dare County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $253,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 95% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 94% of North Carolina towns.
How Manns Harbor 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 Manns Harbor is worth $253,000, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $51,800, which is more affordable than 18% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,294 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manns Harbor | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,294 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,800 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.1% | — |
Who lives in Manns Harbor
| People | Manns Harbor | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Manns Harbor
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
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manns Harbor since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 28, 1982 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 25, 2000.
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 Manns Harbor itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Towns near Manns Harbor
- Manteo, NC7.2 mi · 1,600 people · home $444,400
- Wanchese, NC8.8 mi · 1,522 people · home $311,800
- Nags Head, NC9.3 mi · 3,168 people · home $490,800
- Kill Devil Hills, NC10.2 mi · 7,656 people · home $442,200
- Kitty Hawk, NC12.4 mi · 3,689 people · home $535,000
- Southern Shores, NC15.3 mi · 3,090 people · home $712,300
- Duck, NC20.0 mi · 742 people · home $767,500
- Grandy, NC23.9 mi · 2,776 people · home $306,000
Manns Harbor questions
Is Manns Harbor, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manns Harbor scores better for retirees than 95% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 89%. 29.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Manns Harbor?
The median owner-occupied home in Manns Harbor is valued at $253,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,800, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,294 a month.
What is the weather like in Manns Harbor?
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 Manns Harbor get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manns Harbor since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 28, 1982. 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)