CensusEasy
METRO AREA

Wilmington Metro

Wilmington, NC · 3 counties · 492,772 residents (2025 est.) · 1,913.62 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Wilmington has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $76,547. The metro area has grown rapidly, with population up 65% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $362,172. With a median age of 45.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 76%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
453,347
+65%since 2000
from 274,532 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
237 / sq mi
+65%since 2000
from 143 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.7
+19%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:492,772 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
175K251K327K403K479K1990201020202024Wilmington
2024453K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,547
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,392 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,500
+117%since 2000
from $21,469 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.9%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
−1%since 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$362,172
+76%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,052 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,350
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $584 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.0% in 2000
27.7% rent
Vacancy rate
19.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
+61%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
79
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilmington on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.4%(215,248)
Black17.1%(46,996)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(6,732)
Asian0.6%(1,589)
Other0%
Diversity Score42%(115,398)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.7%(347,684)
Black10.1%(45,844)
Hispanic / Latino7.3%(32,917)
Asian1%(4,650)
Other4.9%(22,252)
Diversity Score49.2%(223,166)
Segregation Score34.9%(158,216)
Diversity Score
49
+17%since 2000
from 42 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−10%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.6%
+15.3 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.4%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.0%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+59%since 2000
from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.6%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
16.9%
+12.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 62.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.5%
−20.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−39.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
Unchangedsince 2012
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.8%
−74.9 ptssince 2013
from 83.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.6%
+13.8 ptssince 2017
from 78.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 93.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 4.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WilmingtonCENTRAL126,809
What's inside

3 component counties

New Hanover CountyCENTRAL245,959Brunswick CountyCENTRAL174,702Pender County72,111
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Wilmington

Pensacola
Pop 544,949
Lansing
Pop 479,722
Savannah
Pop 438,314
Visalia
Pop 485,146
Places similar to Wilmington
Head to head

Compare Wilmington side by side

WILMINGTON VS
Pensacola
Income$76,743same
Home value$284,678−21%
Population544,949+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILMINGTON VS
Lansing
Income$72,596−5%
Home value$213,204−41%
Population479,722−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILMINGTON VS
Savannah
Income$77,692+1%
Home value$302,959−16%
Population438,314−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILMINGTON VS
Visalia
Income$71,300−7%
Home value$330,100−9%
Population485,146−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilmington, NC?

Wilmington, NC has about 453,347 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wilmington, NC?

The typical household in Wilmington, NC earns about $76,547 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wilmington, NC expensive?

In Wilmington, NC, the median home is worth about $362,172, and the typical rent is about $1,350 a month.

How educated are people in Wilmington, NC?

About 39.6% of adults age 25 and over in Wilmington, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wilmington, NC?

About 10.9% of people in Wilmington, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilmington, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Wilmington, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 253,223 residents, a change of about 127 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Wilmington with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →