The Town FilesWanchese, North Carolina
Community in Dare County · population 1,522 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $311,800
- Household income
- $88,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 36.3
Wanchese is a community of 1,522 people in Dare County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $311,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 99% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 77% of North Carolina towns.
How Wanchese 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 Wanchese is worth $311,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $88,750, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,073 a month. 69.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wanchese | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $311,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,073 | $969 |
| Median household income | $88,750 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Wanchese
| People | Wanchese | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Wanchese
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
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanchese since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 17, 1952 about 7.9 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 12 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 Wanchese itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Towns near Wanchese
- Manteo, NC4.1 mi · 1,600 people · home $444,400
- Nags Head, NC7.5 mi · 3,168 people · home $490,800
- Manns Harbor, NC8.8 mi · 790 people · home $253,000
- Kill Devil Hills, NC12.3 mi · 7,656 people · home $442,200
- Kitty Hawk, NC16.4 mi · 3,689 people · home $535,000
- Southern Shores, NC19.8 mi · 3,090 people · home $712,300
- Duck, NC24.7 mi · 742 people · home $767,500
Wanchese questions
Is Wanchese, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wanchese scores better for retirees than 59% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 44%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Wanchese?
The median owner-occupied home in Wanchese is valued at $311,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,750, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,073 a month.
What is the weather like in Wanchese?
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 Wanchese get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wanchese since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 17, 1952. 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)