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Wilson County, NC
7 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Wilson County, North Carolina.
Population
79,290
Land area
368sq mi
People per sq mi
216
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Wilson County
Wilson County at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $56,423 a year, 22% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $186,000 (36% below North Carolina) and median rent is $953 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Wilson (48,370), Elm City (1,292) and Lucama (1,205).
Local data for Wilson County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools35
- Colleges2
- Libraries6
- Banks15
- Post Offices9
- Parks26
- Grocery Stores34
- Restaurants215
- Affordable Housing16
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers3
- Community Health Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment6
- Private Schools7
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places10
Housing and community stats
Wilson County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,423
Poverty rate
19.8%
Median home value
$186,000
Prices +1.9% in a year
Median rent
$953/mo
Homeownership
60.0%
Bachelor's or higher
21.7%
Median age
40.6
Average commute
22.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (7,521), Irish Americans (3,996), German Americans (3,236).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.2%
Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,034
34,906 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$54,929
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$580M
FY 2026, $7,366 per person
PPP loans
$144M
1,981 loans, 19,822 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$212K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Wilson County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.5%
- Carpooled9.9%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked1.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home7.7%
Average one-way commute: 22.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Wilson County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
402
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
427
1.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
90° / 33°F
50.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone10 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Wilson County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.4%
U.S. 33.3% +5.1 pts
Diabetes
16.8%
U.S. 12.1% +4.7 pts
Smoking
18.0%
U.S. 12.8% +5.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.8%
U.S. 11.1% +2.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Wilson County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Wilson County, NC?
- Wilson is the largest city or town in Wilson County, with about 48,370 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Wilson County?
- Wilson County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27813, 27822, 27851, 27873, 27880.
- What is the population of Wilson County, NC?
- About 79,290 people live in Wilson County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Wilson County?
- Wilson County borders Johnston County, Pitt County, Wayne County, Nash County, Edgecombe County, Greene County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023