Wilmington, NC Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Wilmington, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Wilmington →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Wilmington is a city of roughly 116,933 in North Carolina. The median household there earns $58,908 annually, which runs below the multi-city median income (-18%).
The typical home in Wilmington is worth $318,600, roughly in line with the multi-city median (-2%), while the typical renter pays $1,213 a month. Either path — buying or renting — deserves a look at today's rates before deciding.
Buying a typical home in Wilmington would run about 5.4 years of median household income — a moderate multiple, not unusually high or low. Home prices near Wilmington have risen a steady 4.67% over the past year — measured growth, not a spike. Natural-hazard exposure in Wilmington is rated Relatively High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,213/mo in Wilmington would take 24.7% of your income.
$260/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($318,600) would take 34.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$326/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Wilmington
Median home value is $318,600 and median gross rent is $1,213/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for New Hanover rose 4.67% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,659/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Wilmington's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Wilmington reported a violent crime rate of 405.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Wilmington
Planning a move to Wilmington? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Wilmington, NC?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Wilmington's median home value at $318,600, median rent at $1,213/month, and median household income at $58,908.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Wilmington?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Wilmington, where median rent runs $1,213/month, you'd want to earn about $48,520 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Wilmington.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Wilmington?
- Comparing the two in Wilmington: renting at the median $1,213/month needs about $48,520 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $318,600 median home needs roughly $72,894 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Wilmington safe?
- Wilmington reported a violent crime rate of 405.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data. Compare that figure against other cities you're considering for context.
See the full salary breakdown for Wilmington →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Wilmington's.