Waves is a community in Dare County, North Carolina, home to about 153 people across 0.7 square miles. Its ZIP code is 27982, and parts of 27972 are in Waves too.
Homes sold for a median of $430 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Waves; also Salvo
Mostly Salvo; part is in Waves
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Waves. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Waves’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Waves well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Norfolk International Airport (ORF)101 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN)95 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Virginia Beach, VA90 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA308 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Waves; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Waves had 172 residents in the 2020 census, up 28% since 2010.
It’s the 726th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Dare County grew from 4,757 residents in 1900 to 36,915 in 2020.
Dare County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 87°F in summer, and winter lows average 40°F. About 61.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Frisco 2nne, NC weather station (23 miles away).
16,320 jobs at 2,079 businesses in Dare County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Nearest hospitals
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances.
Museums
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Bear Grass Charter School. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Grass Charter SchoolWilliamston | 6–12 | 445 | Charter | 94.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Salvo.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.