Wilmington city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Wilmington city, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Wilmington city, North Carolina has a total population of 118,578, the 8th largest city in North Carolina, with a median household income of $63,900, which is 9% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.3%.

Wilmington city Quick Facts

Population 118,578

Median Household Income $63,900

Median Home Value $350,300

Poverty Rate 16.3%

Unemployment Rate 4.6%

Median Age 37.5 years

Homeownership Rate 46.8%

Affordability Ratio 5.5x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.8%

High School Graduation Rate 93.5%

Diversity Index 48/100

Population 118,578 8th of 774

Median Income $63,900 average

Poverty Rate 16.3% 31% higher national

Median Home Value $350,300 top 20%

How Wilmington city Compares

Median Household Income

Wilmington city

$63,900

$69,904

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Wilmington city

$350,300

$259,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.1%

$25K-$50K 21.3%

$50K-$100K 29.5%

$100K+ 31.1%

Employment

4.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8% | National: 5.2%

64.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 46.8%

Renter 53.2%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.8%

18-34

30.2%

35-54

22.6%

55-74

22.8%

75+

7.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 57 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Wilmington city Rankings in North Carolina

#8 Population of 774

#296 Median Income of 774

#106 Education of 774

#119 Home Value of 774

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Cities Similar to Wilmington city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
High Point city	115,263	$61,228	$212,400	33.9%	14.7%
Concord city	106,518	$84,752	$327,600	41.7%	8.6%
Asheville city	94,369	$67,221	$411,000	52.0%	14.6%
Gastonia city	81,632	$60,554	$250,000	27.7%	14.3%
Greenville city	88,540	$50,564	$213,100	39.3%	24.5%

Population Overview

Wilmington city is a major urban center located in North Carolina. The total population is 118,578. It ranks as the 8th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wilmington city is 37.5 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wilmington city is $63,900. This is 9% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.3%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $350,300. Housing costs are 35% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x. 46.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wilmington city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.8%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

45.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%. Notably, 16.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wilmington city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Wilmington city, North Carolina?

Wilmington city, North Carolina has a population of 118,578 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Wilmington city, NC?

The median household income in Wilmington city is $63,900, which is 19% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Wilmington city, NC?

The poverty rate in Wilmington city is 16.3%. This means approximately 18,638 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Wilmington city, North Carolina?

Wilmington city's population is 69.9% White, 14.8% Black, 8.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.3% Asian.

What is the median home value in Wilmington city, NC?

The median home value in Wilmington city is $350,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x.

How educated is Wilmington city, North Carolina?

45.8% of adults (25+) in Wilmington city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 16.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.