SQ fast boat, 2009
Swan Quarter’s story
187 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2009 and 3 maps from 1951 on.
- 1839Swan Quarter is settled
Swan QuarterNC
Photo: Nyttend · Public domain
Population
458
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$143K
+1.8% in a year
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
39.7
years
Jobs based here
171
A job hub
Settled
1839
187 years ago
Is Swan Quarter a good place to live?
31% of residents live below the poverty line in Swan Quarter, against 13% in North Carolina’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Only 4 of the 291 North Carolina towns we compare have a lower average trip to work than Swan Quarter. Swan Quarter’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 0.2 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Swan Quarter has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Swan Quarter stand out
Where Swan Quarter beats most towns.
Small town
458 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Swan Quarter.
Work & commute
A job hub: Swan Quarter has 1.6 jobs for every working resident and draws in 163 commuters
8%work in town
Jobs based in Swan Quarter fell to 171 in 2023, 30 fewer than in 2013. Only 8% of working residents stay in Swan Quarter for work; the rest commute out. The top destinations are Belhaven (9%), Hertford (3%) and Greenville (3%). Half commute less than 38 miles.
| Swan Quarter | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.6% | 6.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Swan Quarter8%
Belhaven9%
Hertford3%
Greenville3%
Chesapeake3%
38 mi
median commute distance
171
jobs based in Swan Quarter
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Swan Quarter stands out in North Carolina and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
100risk score of 100
FEMA puts four fifths of Swan Quarter’s expected hazard losses down to hurricanes, and 7% to inland flooding. Federal aid has come to Swan Quarter households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2011. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 100% of U.S. communities.
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingCoastal flooding
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
The typical home in Swan Quarter: about $143K
$143KZillow home value
Home values are up 1.8% over the year to September 2026. In Swan Quarter, 87% of households are owner-occupiers.
Typical home value
Swan Quarter$143K
North Carolina$332K
+1.8%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Swan Quarter: mild winters and hot summers
1″snow a winter
A winter brings about 1 inches of snow, with January nights at 37° and July afternoons at 89°.
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–56°
Spring52–71°
Summer71–87°
Fall57–74°
Nov 25
typical first frost
Mar 18
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Swan Quarter is
Among adults in Swan Quarter, 38% have obesity. Against the North Carolina average, Swan Quarter comes out ahead on 2 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 11. Two figures for adults here: 17% have diabetes, 12% binge drink.
| Swan Quarter | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 38% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
2 better19 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Swan Quarter | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 74.2% | 65.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.3% | 76.7% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 5.7% | 3.6% |
Washington County Hospital
38.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Outdoors
Swan Quarter has set aside 2.7% of its land for conservation
2.7%conserved
4.6 miles of trail.
2.7%
conserved · 68 of 2,519 acres
4.6 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Swan Quarter
16pages on Swan Quarter
The big questions
Out and about
Getting set up
Moving to Swan Quarter: who provides what
Swan Quarter is unincorporated, so Hyde County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerTideland Electric Member16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHyde County Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesHyde CountyHyde County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHyde County Board of ElectionsHyde County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP code2788527885 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
A job hub
Every workday, about 163 people come to Swan Quarter for work
Where Swan Quarter’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
171jobs based in Swan Quarter
8%of working residents work in town
38 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Swan Quarter; the nearest are
Beaufort County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Washington37.3 mi$2,540 in-state tuitionElizabeth City State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Elizabeth City60.1 mi$6,536 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Swan Quarter residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
About Swan Quarter
Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States
Swan Quarter (also spelled Swanquarter) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Hyde County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Hyde County. As of the 2020 census, Swan Quarter had a population of 275.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 78 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2 ft
- ZIP code
- 27885
- Area code
- 252
Questions about Swan Quarter
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Swan Quarter, NC a good place to live?
Swan Quarter has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Swan Quarter is in here
Say something about Swan Quarter.
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