Wrightsville Beach is home to 2,665 people in North Carolina. The median age is 58.0, about 19 years above the US median. Households here earn about 109% more than in North Carolina as a whole. This is an unusually credentialed place: 72% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $1,168,700, having more than doubled since 2000. The median household earns $151,563, about 84% above the national median.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $151,563, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 58.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
72% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Wrightsville Beach
What changed most since 1990
Median age35.2 → 58.0(+22.8 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Homes owned by their occupants52.1% → 80.8%(+28.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$441,613 → $1,168,700(+165%)US over the same years: +67%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)14.2%(23)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era32.1%(52)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 162 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Wrightsville Beach, decade by decade
Wrightsville Beach population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
2,797
$85,094
$441,613
48.7%
1.6
2000
2,593
$101,836
$813,005
61.0%
5.8
2010
2,477
$101,239
$1,422,890
65.8%
7.4
2020
2,473
$128,121
$1,033,869
68.1%
14.7
2024
2,665
$151,563
$1,168,700
72.5%
8.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina?
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina has about 2,665 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina?
The typical household in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina earns about $151,563 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina expensive?
In Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $1,168,700, and the typical rent is about $2,336 a month.
How educated are people in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina?
About 72.5% of adults age 25 and over in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina?
About 4.0% of people in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 132 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.
