The typical owner-occupied home in Nags Head is worth about $490,800, 70% above the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 48% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,632 a year in property taxes, about 0.54% of their home's value, lower than the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $91,264 a year, so the median home costs 5.4 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 83% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Nags Head at a glance
| Nags Head | North Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $490,800 | $288,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,632 | $1,896 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.54% | 0.66% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $91,264 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 83% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 66% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,851 | $1,631 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.0% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,005 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 36.9% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1987 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 69.9% | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,160 | 10,730,404 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Nags Head
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Nags Head home of $490,800 with 20% down costs about $3,067 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,884, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $131,429 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 40% of the median Nags Head household income of $91,264; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $341,000.
The median rent here is $1,005 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,062 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $98,160 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $392,640 |
| Principal and interest | $2,641 |
| Property taxes (0.54% a year) | $221 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $204 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,067 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $17,178 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $481,910 |
| Principal and interest | $3,242 |
| Property taxes (0.54% a year) | $221 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $204 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $217 |
| Total per month | $3,884 |
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Questions about home buying in Nags Head
What is the median home value in Nags Head?
About $490,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Nags Head?
Homeowners pay a median $2,632 a year, which is about 0.54% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Nags Head?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,067 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $131,429 a year.
More about Nags Head
- Mortgage Refinance in Nags Head
- Debt Relief in Nags Head
- Home Equity Loans in Nags Head
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data