Below Average CostNear National AverageNew Hanover County Schools
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina (January 2023) 7 (cropped) · DiscoA340 / CC BY-SA 4.0Girls at Wrightsville Beach · Dennis Ludlow - Sharkshock / CC BY-SA 4.0Wrightsville Beach Aerial Photo · FOCIIS Photography / CC BY-SA 4.0Island Life in Wrightsville Beach · FOCIIS Photography / CC BY-SA 4.0
Wrightsville Beach is a small town of 2,848 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $125,074
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wrightsville Beach stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Wrightsville Beach is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wrightsville Beach 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
Wrightsville Beach's overall cost of living index is 97.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wrightsville Beach costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wrightsville Beach, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$966,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$2,013
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$125,074
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Wrightsville Beach's violent crime rate is 207.9 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
207.9 /100k
Property Crime
3659.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wrightsville Beach 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
Wrightsville Beach, 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
71.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wrightsville Beach sees average highs of 56.2°F in January
and 90.1°F in July,
with 65.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Wrightsville Beach's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wrightsville Beach roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $966,200 and median rent is $2,013/month.
Wrightsville Beach's violent crime rate is 207.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3659.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wrightsville Beach 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. 71.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wrightsville Beach, NC has a population of 2,848, a median household income of $125,074, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Wrightsville Beach averages 56.2°F in January and 90.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 65.1 inches
with about 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wrightsville Beach, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28480.
The population of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina is 2,848 with a median age of 52.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wrightsville Beach: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $966,200, median household income $125,074, crime index 103 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wrightsville Beach side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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