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CITY

Wilson

North Carolina · 49,572 residents (2025 est.) · 31.386 sq mi
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The short version

Wilson has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,485. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $210,700. The poverty rate of 23.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 27% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,370
+9%since 2000
from 44,405 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,541 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 1,415 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+13%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:49,572 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
36K39K43K47K51K1990201020202024Wilson
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,485
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,169 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,704
+78%since 2000
from $17,813 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.4%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 21.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+3%since 2010
from 0.473 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$210,700
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$971
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $478 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
49.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 51.0% in 2000
50.9% rent
Vacancy rate
11.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.8%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.3%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+38%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilson on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic43.9%(19,479)
Black47.3%(21,007)
Hispanic / Latino7.3%(3,237)
Asian0.5%(238)
Other0%
Diversity Score71.2%(31,631)
2024
White, non-Hispanic34.9%(16,898)
Black46.9%(22,693)
Hispanic / Latino12.5%(6,061)
Asian1.7%(831)
Other3.9%(1,887)
Diversity Score80%(38,716)
Diversity Score
80
+12%since 2000
from 71 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.5%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.2%
+15.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+54%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.4%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−7.3 ptssince 2011
from 14.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.7%
−23.5 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
Female
53.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
Foreign born
6.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.6%
−69.3 ptssince 2013
from 81.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.4%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 71.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2016
from 90.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2016
from 7.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Wilson to nearby cities

WILSON VS
Rocky Mount
Income$55,534+6%
Home value$165,700−21%
Population55,120+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON VS
Zebulon
Income$79,112+51%
Home value$320,700+52%
Population11,933−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON VS
Tarboro
Income$49,796−5%
Home value$185,500−12%
Population10,979−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON VS
Wendell
Income$95,787+83%
Home value$330,500+57%
Population19,687−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilson, North Carolina?

Wilson, North Carolina has about 48,370 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wilson, North Carolina?

The typical household in Wilson, North Carolina earns about $52,485 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wilson, North Carolina expensive?

In Wilson, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $210,700, and the typical rent is about $971 a month.

How educated are people in Wilson, North Carolina?

About 24.5% of adults age 25 and over in Wilson, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wilson, North Carolina?

About 23.0% of people in Wilson, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilson, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Wilson, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 11,440 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Wilson, North Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy