Real Estate Investing in Manteo, North Carolina (27954)

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

Dare County • Population: 7,080 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 27954 (Manteo, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 19.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Manteo, NC (27954)?

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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 $516,962
Avg Monthly Rent $1,278
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,877
% Renters 23.2%

Market Analysis: 27954 Manteo

This part of Dare County is not an easy win. The 27954 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 27954 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $517K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 27954's metrics run below Dare County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A solid renter share of 23% in 27954 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 27954, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Manteo:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,278/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Kill Devil Hills, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Kill Devil Hills, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27954

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$164,301/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $339,336 $1,300 2.8% +7.6% $339,336
2BR $386,468 $1,420 2.6% +9.8% $193,234
3BR $492,903 $1,810 2.6% +9.0% $164,301
4BR $728,430 $1,880 1.9% +10.0% $182,107
5BR $1,016,747 +10.1% $203,349

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$550K$486K$422K$358K$294K$230KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27954 Compare?

Metric 27954 Manteo Kill Devil Hills, NC North Carolina
Home Value $516,962 $516,962 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,278 $1,278 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27954? 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 27954 (Manteo, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kill Devil Hills, NC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
82%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $516,962
Monthly Rent $1,278
Price-to-Rent 33.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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
19.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27954

Population: 7,080

💰 Median Household Income
$75,877
This area
$75,877
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.2%
This area
23.2%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
42.5%
This area
42.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.0 years
This area
41.0 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.7%
Black/African American 12.5%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 5.6%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
26.6%
This area
26.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
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 27954

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$14,049 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Manteo Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
648 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,049 Per Student
A Very Good

Manteo High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,049 Per Student
A Very Good

Manteo Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 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

What are home prices like in Manteo, NC?

Homes in Manteo, NC typically sell near $517K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

Are tenants stable in Manteo, NC?

The tenant pool in Manteo, NC is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,278/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How much do tenants pay in Manteo, NC?

Investors in Manteo, NC typically see rents near $1,278/mo per month against $517K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Does house hacking make sense in Manteo, NC?

For house hackers, Manteo, NC is a challenging. The $1,278/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $517K property.

How strict are landlord regulations in Manteo, NC?

Manteo, NC falls under NC landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 27954 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27954 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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How 27954 ranks in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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