Real Estate Investing in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina (27948)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Dare • Population: 12,628 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27948 (Kill Devil Hills, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 46.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Kill Devil Hills, NC (27948)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $526,235
Avg Monthly Rent $2,300
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,517
% Renters 24.0%

Market Analysis: 27948 Kill Devil Hills

This part of Dare is not an easy win. The 27948 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 27948 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $526K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Looking more closely, 27948 offers a low basis, the region around Kill Devil Hills has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A healthy renter share of 24% in 27948 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Kill Devil Hills's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 27948. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kill Devil Hills:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,300/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 27948

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$159,039/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $312,507 $1,450 3.3% +8.8% $312,507
2BR $387,658 $1,590 3.0% +9.5% $193,829
3BR $497,085 $2,020 2.9% +9.7% $165,695
4BR $636,157 $2,110 2.4% +10.2% $159,039
5BR $1,069,457 +10.5% $213,891

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$553K$484K$414K$345K$275K$206KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,515$2,469$2,423$2,376$2,330$2,284Jan 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27948 Compare?

Metric 27948 Kill Devil Hills North Carolina
Home Value $526,235 $526,235 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 7.8%
Avg Rent $2,300 $2,300 -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 27948? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27948 (Kill Devil Hills, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $526,235
Monthly Rent $2,300
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
46.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27948

Population: 12,628

💰 Median Household Income
$78,517
This area
$78,517
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.0%
This area
24.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.4%
This area
40.4%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.8 years
This area
47.8 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
46.3%
This area
46.3%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.8%
Other/Mixed 11.5%
Hispanic/Latino 9.4%
Black/African American 1.1%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
15.6%
This area
15.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 27948

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,049 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

First Flight Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,049 Per Student
A Very Good

First Flight Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
619 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,049 Per Student
B+ Above Average

First Flight High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
913 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,049 Per Student
C+ Average

Dare Learning Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
28 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,049 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in Kill Devil Hills, NC?

Kill Devil Hills, NC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $2,300/mo.

What is the typical rental rate in Kill Devil Hills, NC?

The typical rental in Kill Devil Hills, NC commands about $2,300/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $526K purchase basis.

What price range are homes in Kill Devil Hills, NC?

Median home price in Kill Devil Hills, NC is near $526K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How do experienced investors play Kill Devil Hills, NC?

The best-fit strategy in Kill Devil Hills, NC is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Does Kill Devil Hills, NC make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Kill Devil Hills, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $526K and rents of $2,300/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 27948 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27948 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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