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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Wilson Micro

Wilson, NC · 1 counties · 81,150 residents (2025 est.) · 367.574 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 $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
+7%since 2000
from 201 / sq mi in 2000
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
202479K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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
+38%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
33
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wilson 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%
Diversity Score68.6%(50,608)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic44.3%(35,145)
Black38.6%(30,627)
Hispanic / Latino12.4%(9,830)
Asian1.1%(910)
Other3.5%(2,778)
Diversity Score79.7%(63,194)
Segregation Score42.4%(33,583)
Diversity Score
80
+16%since 2000
from 69 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
+4%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
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%
In this metro

Principal cities

WilsonCENTRAL49,572
What's inside

1 component county

Wilson CountyCENTRAL81,150
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Wilson

Greeneville
Pop 73,831
Danville
Pop 71,259
Indiana
Pop 82,878
Alamogordo
Pop 70,368
Places similar to Wilson
Head to head

Compare Wilson side by side

WILSON VS
Greeneville
Income$56,194same
Home value$207,500+12%
Population73,831−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON VS
Danville
Income$56,877+1%
Home value$97,200−48%
Population71,259−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON VS
Indiana
Income$60,208+7%
Home value$152,800−18%
Population82,878+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WILSON VS
Alamogordo
Income$55,876−1%
Home value$162,700−13%
Population70,368−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilson, NC?

Wilson, NC has about 79,290 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wilson, NC?

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

Is Wilson, NC expensive?

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

How educated are people in Wilson, NC?

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

What is the poverty rate in Wilson, NC?

About 19.8% of people in Wilson, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilson, NC grown since 1990?

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →