Dare County, North Carolina
21 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike top-rated counties, Dare County's 21 ZIP codes carry a fair number of documented violations — chlorine compliance and disinfection byproduct limits are the categories most often cited in recent data.
How Dare County Compares
How Dare County Compares
Dare County scores 8 points below the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 3 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Dare County, North Carolina
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.8 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 11.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,998, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.308% avg pipe failure probability, 5% of ZIPs at high risk
47.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Dare County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 7 violations. Past 5 years: 16 total (16 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,998
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
40,951 housing units in Dare County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Dare County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Dare County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Dare County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Dare County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Raleigh, | 640,000 | 156 |
| 2 | Bayleaf Master | 15,585 | 156 |
| 3 | Stonehenge S/d | 1,840 | 156 |
| 4 | Vance Company Water District Phase 1 | 1,580 | 156 |
| 5 | Middlesex Water System | 1,389 | 156 |
21 total water systems serve Dare County.
All ZIP Codes in Dare County
21 ZIP codes tracked in Dare County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27843 | Hobgood | 95 | A | 0 | $94K |
| 2 | 28170 | Wadesboro | 78 | B | 15 | $110K |
| 3 | 27978 | Stumpy Point | 77 | B | 0 | $267K |
| 4 | 27948 | Kill Devil Hills | 75 | B | 1 | $398K |
| 5 | 27602 | Raleigh | 73 | B | 78 (7 health) | — |
| 6 | 27698 | Raleigh | 73 | B | 78 (7 health) | — |
| 7 | 27954 | Manteo | 72 | B | 0 | $374K |
| 8 | 27920 | Buxton | 67 | C | 0 | $385K |
| 9 | 27959 | Nags Head | 67 | C | 0 | $451K |
| 10 | 27968 | Rodanthe | 67 | C | 0 | $431K |
| 11 | 27941 | Harbinger | 65 | C | 0 | $364K |
| 12 | 27966 | Powells Point | 65 | C | 0 | $329K |
| 13 | 27953 | Manns Harbor | 60 | C | 0 | $203K |
| 14 | 27964 | Point Harbor | 60 | C | 0 | $325K |
| 15 | 27981 | Wanchese | 60 | C | 0 | $257K |
| 16 | 27972 | Salvo | 55 | C | 0 | $367K |
| 17 | 27982 | Waves | 55 | C | 0 | — |
| 18 | 27915 | Avon | 50 | D | 0 | $292K |
| 19 | 27936 | Frisco | 50 | D | 0 | $430K |
| 20 | 27943 | Hatteras | 50 | D | 0 | — |
| 21 | 27949 | Kitty Hawk | 50 | D | 0 | $601K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Dare County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Dare County, North Carolina
Overview
Dare County in North Carolina covers 21 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).
4 of 21 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 14 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to North Carolina water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.