This data is based on ZIP codes 27948, 27949, which covers Kitty Hawk and Duck and Kill Devil Hills and Southern Shores.
The U.S. Census reports business data by ZIP code, not city boundaries. All numbers reflect the combined ZIP codes 27948, 27949 area shared across these towns.
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Kitty Hawk ZIP Area Economy · 2023
Wages -1% vs. avg. Dare Co. town
Kitty Hawk's ZIP area supports 8,758 jobs across 1,062 businesses, with workers earning an average of $45K per year, 1% below the Dare County average. The economy is moderately diversified (0.84 index), led by retail trade and construction. 89.9% of businesses have fewer than 20 employees, and each business employs an average of 8.2 people. Jobs declined 0.5% from the prior year while business count grew 1%.
Where Businesses Clusteri
Larger blocks have more businesses.
Local Specialization vs. Dare Avg.i
Industries sorted by relative concentration in this ZIP area.
Business Size Distributioni
1,062 businesses by employee count. 89.9% are small businesses (under 20 employees).
Micro (<5)
Small (5-9)
Small (10-19)
Medium (20-49)
Medium (50-99)
Large (100-249)
Economic Densityi
2.00+
jobs per resident
Capped: ZIP includes employers outside city limits
8.2
employees per business
County avg: 8.2+0%
$106K
payroll per resident
$370K
payroll per business
Kitty Hawk ZIP Area vs. Avg. Dare Co. Towni
All Industries in ZIP Areai
| Sector | Kitty Hawk ZIP | Avg. Dare Co. | Spec. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 188 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Construction | 183 | 85 | 1.1x |
| Food & Accommodation | 169 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Real Estate | 99 | 50 | 1.0x |
| Professional Services | 90 | 45 | 1.0x |
| Admin Services | 71 | 32 | 1.1x |
| Other Services | 69 | 37 | 1.0x |
| Finance & Insurance | 51 | 26 | 1.0x |
| Healthcare | 49 | 30 | 0.8x |
| Arts & Entertainment | 19 | 12 | 0.8x |
| Wholesale Trade | 16 | 8 | 1.0x |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 5 | 1.2x |
| Transportation | 12 | 8 | 0.8x |
| Information | 12 | 8 | 0.8x |
| Education | 4 | 3 | 0.7x |
| Agriculture | 3 | 2 | 0.8x |