CensusEasy
COUNTY

Wilson County

North Carolina · 81,150 residents (2025 est.) · 367.574 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Wilson micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Wilson County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,423. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $186,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
79,290
+7%since 2000
from 73,814 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
216 / sq mi
+3%since 2009
from 209 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
+12%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:81,150 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
65K69K74K79K83K1990201020202024Wilson County
202479K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(4,632)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(4,668)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.8%(5,408)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(5,281)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.3%(5,024)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.3%(9,737)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(9,344)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(9,437)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.2%(10,463)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.7%(9,307)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.8%(4,614)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(1,375)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,423
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,116 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,996
+87%since 2000
from $17,102 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.5%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
+6%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$186,000
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$953
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $469 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 61.2% in 2000
40.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.5%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+17%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
36
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilson County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic53.5%(39,498)
Black39.1%(28,886)
Hispanic / Latino6%(4,457)
Asian0.4%(286)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic44.3%(35,145)
Black38.6%(30,627)
Hispanic / Latino12.4%(9,830)
Asian1.1%(910)
Other3.5%(2,778)
Diversity Score
80
+9%since 2009
from 73 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
42
+4%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican9.5%(7,521)
Colombian0.5%(412)
Honduran0.4%(319)
Dominican0.4%(285)
Salvadoran0.3%(200)
Puerto Rican0.2%(149)
Cuban0.2%(147)
Nicaraguan0.1%(55)
Guatemalan0.1%(54)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.4%(314)
Asian Indian0.2%(197)
Chinese0.2%(162)
Pakistani0.1%(60)
Japanese0.1%(59)
Korean0.1%(44)
Filipino0.1%(44)
Thai0%(30)
Ancestry
English11.2%(8,860)
American8.3%(6,543)
Irish5%(3,996)
German4.1%(3,236)
Italian1%(794)
Scottish0.9%(742)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(556)
French0.7%(519)
Arab0.5%(407)
Polish0.5%(372)
West Indian0.4%(298)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.4%(281)
Hungarian0.3%(265)
British0.3%(241)
Dutch0.3%(238)
Nigerian0.2%(173)
Welsh0.2%(157)
Jamaican0.1%(112)
Norwegian0.1%(99)
Haitian0.1%(87)
Ghanaian0.1%(64)
Russian0.1%(53)
Portuguese0.1%(49)
Iranian0.1%(43)
Swiss0.1%(40)
Danish0%(35)
Armenian0%(33)
Czech0%(32)
Greek0%(30)
Romanian0%(28)
Slovak0%(20)
Canadian0%(19)
Israeli0%(18)
Lebanese0%(12)
Syrian0%(12)
Belgian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.7%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.3%
+15.9 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+59%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.7%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−7.0 ptssince 2011
from 12.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.5%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 62.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.1%
−23.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
52.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−40.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.2%
−68.7 ptssince 2013
from 80.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.7%
+14.5 ptssince 2017
from 71.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 89.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 8.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.1%(10,937)
Married50.7%(15,358)
Widowed3.8%(1,159)
Divorced9.4%(2,844)
Women 15+
Never married32.1%(10,994)
Married45.8%(15,697)
Widowed10.4%(3,568)
Divorced11.7%(4,025)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wilson County

Talladega County
Pop 81,603
White County
Pop 80,085
Troup County
Pop 72,844
Vermilion County
Pop 71,259
Places similar to Wilson County
Head to head

Compare Wilson County to nearby counties

WILSON COUNTY VS
Nash County
Income$62,426+11%
Home value$191,000+3%
Population99,365+22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON COUNTY VS
Greene County
Income$53,244−6%
Home value$117,400−37%
Population20,700−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON COUNTY VS
Edgecombe County
Income$51,265−9%
Home value$125,100−33%
Population49,121−39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$59,733+6%
Home value$178,700−4%
Population122,278+51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilson County, North Carolina?

Wilson County, North Carolina has about 79,290 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wilson County, North Carolina earns about $56,423 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wilson County, North Carolina expensive?

In Wilson County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $186,000, and the typical rent is about $953 a month.

How educated are people in Wilson County, North Carolina?

About 21.7% of adults age 25 and over in Wilson County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wilson County, North Carolina?

About 19.8% of people in Wilson County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilson County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Wilson County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,229 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

25 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 14.02Census Tract 4.01Census Tract 5.02Census Tract 17Census Tract 4.02Census Tract 8.02Census Tract 6.01Census Tract 6.02Census Tract 12Census Tract 9Census Tract 16Census Tract 5.01Census Tract 1Census Tract 15.02Census Tract 13.01Census Tract 14.01Census Tract 7.02Census Tract 15.01Census Tract 3Census Tract 7.01
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 27893ZIP 27896ZIP 27822ZIP 27851ZIP 27883ZIP 27880ZIP 27813ZIP 27873
Up the hierarchy
All counties in North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

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