CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Wrightsville Beach

North Carolina · 2,797 residents · 1.40 sq mi

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The short version

Wrightsville Beach is home to 2,797 people in North Carolina. This is an unusually credentialed place: 49% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $184,000. Households here earn about 33% more than in North Carolina as a whole. 52% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters pay $586 a month at the median.

At a glance

Wealthier

above the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 35.2

US median: 33.0

More educated

49% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 46%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

2,797

+8%vs 2000

vs 2,593 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

35.2

−5%vs 2000

vs 37.1 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

1.40 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20243K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 52.4%(66)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 92.9%(81)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 142.5%(69)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 194.3%(119)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 2414.6%(407)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3423.2%(650)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4416.3%(456)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5412.5%(349)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 648.6%(241)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 749.3%(261)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 842.3%(64)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1.2%(34)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$35,455

−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $55,903 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$29,722

−19%vs 2000

vs $36,575 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

9.9%

+0.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 9.5% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$184,000

−46%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $446,300 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$586

−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $957 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

52.1%

−2.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 55.0% in 2000

47.9% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic97.6%(2,532)

Black0.3%(7)

Hispanic / Latino0.7%(17)

Asian0.5%(14)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.7%(2,788)

Black0.3%(9)

Hispanic / Latino0.3%(9)

Asian0%(0)

Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Puerto Rican0.5%(14)

Spaniard0.3%(9)

Asian origin

Japanese0.3%(9)

Ancestry

English20.5%(546)

Irish13.3%(354)

German10.8%(289)

Italian9.1%(242)

Scottish5.3%(142)

American4.3%(115)

Scotch-Irish3.9%(103)

Dutch3.7%(98)

French3.6%(97)

Greek2.3%(61)

Canadian2.2%(59)

French Canadian1.8%(49)

+ 14 more ancestry groups with data

Iranian1.6%(42)

Polish1.4%(36)

Russian0.9%(23)

Turkish0.9%(23)

Welsh0.8%(20)

Arab0.7%(19)

Lebanese0.7%(19)

British0.6%(17)

Swedish0.6%(15)

Ukrainian0.6%(15)

Slovak0.5%(13)

Norwegian0.3%(7)

Hungarian0.2%(6)

Portuguese0.2%(5)

RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest Scottish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

48.7%

−12.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 61.0% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

95.6%

−3.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 98.8% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

13.3%

−2.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 16.1% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

19.3 min

+45%vs 2000

vs 13.3 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married29.9%(387)

Married58.1%(752)

Widowed0.7%(9)

Divorced11.3%(146)

Women 15+

Never married24.3%(263)

Married65.5%(709)

Widowed6.2%(67)

Divorced4%(43)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

1.1%

−10.2 ptssince 2013

from 11.3% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

61.1%

−0.2 ptssince 2020

from 61.3% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

32.0%

+0.2 ptssince 2020

from 31.8% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

30.1%

+8.1 ptssince 2020

from 22.0% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

1.6%

−0.4 ptssince 2020

from 2.0% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

0.7%

−0.5 ptssince 2020

from 1.2% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

87.9%

−1.8 ptssince 2020

from 89.7% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

31.3%

+7.9 ptssince 2020

from 23.4% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

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

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