What are the schools like in Wilmington, NC?

Wilmington is served primarily by New Hanover County Schools. The district operates 26 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.2:1.

What is the median household income in Wilmington?

The median household income in Wilmington, NC is $58,908 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Wilmington, NC?

Wilmington has an average high temperature of 57.2°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 60.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.9 inches.

Wilmington, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wilmington, NC affordable or expensive?

Wilmington's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wilmington is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $318,600 and the median rent is $1,213 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wilmington, NC?

Wilmington has a violent crime rate of 482.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3514.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wilmington, NC a Good Place to Live?

Wilmington is a mid-sized city of 116,933 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $58,908 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Wilmington stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Wilmington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wilmington city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.1

Wilmington's overall cost of living index is 97.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wilmington costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wilmington, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$318,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,213	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	45.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,908	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Wilmington's violent crime rate is 482.8 per 100,000 residents — 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

482.8 /100k

Property Crime

3514.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wilmington is served primarily by New Hanover County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wilmington, NC	National Avg
School District	New Hanover County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	26	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wilmington sees average highs of 57.2°F in January and 90.0°F in July, with 60.1 inches of annual precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wilmington, NC
Average High — January	57.2°F
Average High — July	90.0°F
Annual Precipitation	60.1"
Annual Snowfall	0.9"

Demographics

Metric	Wilmington, NC	National Avg
Population	116,933	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	16.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kings Grant, NC 4 mi Silver Lake, NC 5 mi Wrightsville Beach, NC 5 mi Hightsville, NC 5 mi Myrtle Grove, NC 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Wilmington

Wilmington, NC is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

28403 28405 28412 28409 28401

Wilmington vs Other Cities

Wilmington, NC vs Kings Grant, NC Wilmington, NC vs Silver Lake, NC Wilmington, NC vs Wrightsville Beach, NC Wilmington, NC vs Hightsville, NC Wilmington, NC vs Myrtle Grove, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wilmington, NC affordable or expensive?

Wilmington's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wilmington roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $318,600 and median rent is $1,213/month.

What is the crime rate in Wilmington, NC?

Wilmington's violent crime rate is 482.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3514.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wilmington?

Public schools in Wilmington are operated by New Hanover County Schools. The district has 26 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.2:1. 43.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wilmington, NC a good place to live?

Wilmington, NC has a population of 116,933, a median household income of $58,908, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wilmington?

Wilmington averages 57.2°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.1 inches with about 0.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wilmington?

Wilmington, NC is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 28403, 28405, 28412, 28409, 28401.

What is the population of Wilmington?

The population of Wilmington, North Carolina is 116,933 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wilmington?

Key numbers for living in Wilmington: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $318,600, median household income $58,908, crime index 143 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wilmington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.