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Wilmington, NC

City in New Hanover County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28401, 28403, 28405, 28409, 28412.

Population

120,805

Land area

51.4sq mi

People per sq mi

2,352

ZIP codes

5

Wilmington and its ZIP codes

Full map

Wilmington at a glance

  • Wilmington is about 11 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
  • It is the 8th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
  • Households here earn a median of $66,738 a year, 8% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $383,800 (33% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,395 a month.

Local data for Wilmington, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Wilmington, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$66,738

Poverty rate

16.0%

Median home value

$383,800

Median rent

$1,395/mo

Homeownership

47.6%

Bachelor's or higher

46.8%

Median age

37.1

Average commute

18.5 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (13,830), German Americans (13,151), Italian Americans (6,851).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for New Hanover County. PPP loans are for Wilmington.

Details

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$65,281

131,696 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$69,666

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.9B

FY 2026, $8,550 per person

PPP loans

$223M

2,973 loans, 30,327 jobs reported

New Hanover County economyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Wilmington, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone69.6%
  • Carpooled6.0%
  • Public transit0.3%
  • Walked2.2%
  • Bicycle0.9%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.8%
  • Worked from home19.2%

Average one-way commute: 18.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Wilmington, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: hurricane

Storm events since 1996

672

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

12,808

14.7% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

90° / 36°F

65.1 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Wilmington, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

31.9%

U.S. 33.3% -1.4 pts

Diabetes

10.7%

U.S. 12.1% -1.4 pts

Smoking

12.2%

U.S. 12.8% -0.6 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.6%

U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts

ZIP codes in Wilmington

5 in or overlapping Wilmington. Population shown

·

Cities near Wilmington

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
Silver LakeCensus-designated place3.8 mi2.5
Myrtle GroveCensus-designated place5.1 mi6.7
Wrightsville BeachTown5.3 mi1.4
Kings GrantCensus-designated place5.4 mi4.5
HightsvilleCensus-designated place5.6 mi1.5
BelvilleTown6.2 mi1.7
WrightsboroCensus-designated place6.9 mi11.1
OgdenCensus-designated place7.1 mi4.5
MurraysvilleCensus-designated place7.3 mi8.6
NorthchaseCensus-designated place7.5 mi1.7
Blue Clay FarmsCensus-designated place7.6 mi2.4
LelandTown7.6 mi28.4
BayshoreCensus-designated place8.3 mi2.4
Sea BreezeCensus-designated place8.8 mi1.9
Skippers CornerCensus-designated place9.3 mi7
Porters NeckCensus-designated place9.7 mi5.4

Frequently asked questions

What county is Wilmington, NC in?
Wilmington is in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
What ZIP codes are in Wilmington, NC?
ZIP codes in or overlapping Wilmington include 28401, 28403, 28405, 28409, 28412.
What is the population of Wilmington, NC?
About 120,805 people live in Wilmington, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Wilmington?
Nearby places include Silver Lake (3.8 mi), Myrtle Grove (5.1 mi), Wrightsville Beach (5.3 mi), Kings Grant (5.4 mi), Hightsville (5.6 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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