Wrightsville Beach town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Wrightsville Beach town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 2,679. It ranks as the 281st most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wrightsville Beach town is 56.1 years. This is 43% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 13.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wrightsville Beach town is $167,273. This is 139% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 113% higher. The poverty rate stands at 3.6%. This is 73% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.3%. This is 72% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $1,041,800. Housing costs are 302% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 81.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wrightsville Beach town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.3% vs 60.7%). The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

71.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Wrightsville Beach town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 106% 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 99.3%. Notably, 25.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wrightsville Beach town, 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.