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City · 120,805 residents · New Hanover County, North Carolina

Wilmington , North Carolina

In Wilmington, a typical home is worth $383,800 and typical rent is $1,395 a month. Compared with all of New Hanover County, typical household income is 11% lower and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $383,800

    About the same as the county

    33% above North Carolina

    • Wilmington
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,395a month

    About the same as the county

    14% above North Carolina

    • Wilmington
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $66,738a year

    11% below the county

    8% below North Carolina

    • Wilmington
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    48%

    14 points below the county

    19 points below North Carolina

    • Wilmington
    • New Hanover
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$416,464
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,713 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Wilmington is in New Hanover County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of New Hanover County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wilmington apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Wrightsboro, the typical home value is $255,700: 33% less than in Wilmington ($383,800).

  2. 48% of households in Wilmington own their home, against 61% in New Hanover County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Wilmington

What homes there are in Wilmington, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Wilmington there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (50%); in New Hanover County, 61%.

Year built

In Wilmington, half of the homes were built before 1989; in New Hanover County, before 1993.

In Wilmington, 16% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 51% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64% in New Hanover County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 73% of owner-occupied homes in Wilmington are worth less than the FHA loan limit for New Hanover County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for New Hanover County is $1,705; about 69% of rents in Wilmington are below it.

With a mortgage

$2,020 a month

New Hanover County: $1,888 a month

Without a mortgage

$686 a month

New Hanover County: $658 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

New Hanover County: 67%

In Wilmington, 66% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,020 a month, against $1,888 in New Hanover County. Without one it drops to $686.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Wilmington gained value more slowly than in New Hanover County: 56% since 2015–2019, against 59%.

Rents in Wilmington rose at about the same pace as in New Hanover County: 40% since 2015–2019, against 37%.

The typical household income in Wilmington rose 40% over that time; home values changed +56% and rent +40%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWilmingtonNew Hanover CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 4.8%7.4%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.3%1.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.052.192.442.53
Drive alone 70%71%72%69%
Carpool 6%6%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%2%3%
Work from home 19%19%16%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Wilmington is 4.8%, lower than in New Hanover County (7.4%).

More than one person per room: that is how 1.3% of households in Wilmington live, near the figure in New Hanover County (1.3%).

On average, a household in Wilmington has 2.05 people, fewer than in New Hanover County (2.19).

The car rules in Wilmington: 70% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Wilmington?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Wilmington, worth $383,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 56% of the typical household income in Wilmington, which is $66,738 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $132,723 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of New Hanover County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wilmington. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,433 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,097

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$376,848
Total interest
$542,196
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,481 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,557 a month

  • Tight

    $1,557 to $2,002 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,002 a month

    Your payment · 56%

Compared with the typical household income in Wilmington ($66,738 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,097
Principal & interest$2,553
Property tax$214
Home insurance$160
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$170

You need at least $13,433 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Wilmington and New Hanover County

Wilmington is in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Wilmington's own numbers

Typical home value
$383,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,395
Typical yearly household income
$66,738
Households that own their home
48%
Effective property tax rate
0.67%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of New Hanover County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,705
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+69%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
11%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of New Hanover County.

Everything about New Hanover County

Buying

Buying a home in Wilmington

A typical home in Wilmington is worth $383,800: about the same as the county and 33% above North Carolina. With the typical household income in Wilmington ($66,738 a year), a typical home costs 5.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Wilmington 5.8 years
  • New Hanover 5.2 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in New Hanover County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in New Hanover County rose 127% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of New Hanover County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.7% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +69% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +127% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Wilmington next to New Hanover County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Wilmington $383,800
  • New Hanover $387,800
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wilmington $1,395
  • New Hanover $1,417
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wilmington $66,738
  • New Hanover $75,166
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wilmington next to New Hanover County and North Carolina
Measure Wilmington New Hanover County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $383,800 $387,800 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,395 $1,417 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,738 $75,166 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 48% 61% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,558 $2,105 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.67% 0.54% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 56% 55% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below New Hanover County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wilmington

For a typical $383,800 home in Wilmington, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wilmington's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,097a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,433
    Cash to close
    $24,947
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $170

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,027a month

    Down payment
    $19,190
    Cash to close
    $30,704
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $182

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,454a month

    Down payment
    $76,760
    Cash to close
    $88,274
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,809a month

    Down payment
    $57,570
    Cash to close
    $69,084
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Wilmington and for New Hanover County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wilmington

0.67%of the home’s value each year

$2,558 a year for the typical owner in Wilmington.

  • Wilmington 0.67%
  • New Hanover 0.54%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in New Hanover County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of New Hanover County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
11%
9,484
Of those, with NFIP insurance
75%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 11% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 75% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wilmington

Typical rent in Wilmington is $1,395 a month: about the same as the county. In Wilmington, 56% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of New Hanover County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,705 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of New Hanover County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,187 $22.83 $47,480
1 bedroom $1,566 $30.12 $62,640
2 bedrooms $1,705 $32.79 $68,200
3 bedrooms $2,238 $43.04 $89,520
4 bedrooms $2,241 $43.10 $89,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Wilmington

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wilmington has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,690 in 28403 to $1,940 in 28409.

3 of the 4 are above the fair market rent for New Hanover County ($1,705).

  • 28403 $1,690$2,220
  • 28405 $1,740$2,280
  • 28409 $1,940$2,550
  • 28412 $1,780$2,340

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wilmington when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Wilmington

HUD lists 49 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Wilmington. These are the largest.

  • Village at Greenfield 1519 Lake Branch Dr, Wilmington 28401 426 homes, 425 low-income · 1 bd: 36 · 2 bd: 356 · 3 bd: 34 · In service since 2000 · For families
  • Hillcrest 905 S 13th St, Wilmington 28401 216 homes, 214 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington · Average payment: $379 a month · Average wait: 54 months (910) 341-7700
  • Market North Apartments 111 Darlington Ave, Wilmington 28403 204 homes, 202 low-income · For families (910) 762-1272
  • Cypress Cove 331 S Turners Run, Wilmington 28405 200 homes, 198 low-income · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 80 · 3 bd: 80 · For families
  • Solomon Towers 15 Castle St, Wilmington 28401 151 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington · Average payment: $332 a month · Average wait: 4 months (910) 341-7700

See all 49 buildings in New Hanover County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wilmington

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in New Hanover County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wilmington

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wilmington or New Hanover County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Wilmington the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Wilmington

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Wilmington, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Wilmington

    929 N Front St, Wilmington · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 5 more
    (910) 341-7836

  • Cape Fear Regional CDC

    500 Compton St, Wilmington · 5 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (910) 762-7555

  • City of Jacksonville

    815 New Bridge St, Jacksonville · 46 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (910) 938-6551

Every agency in New Hanover County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Wilmington

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Wilmington

HUD’s record names them for Wilmington or New Hanover County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (910) 341-7700

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in New Hanover County

These cities are also in New Hanover County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about New Hanover County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Wilmington, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If New Hanover County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Wilmington.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Wilmington

Short answers with the numbers for Wilmington and all of New Hanover County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Wilmington?

The typical home value in Wilmington is $383,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in New Hanover County it is $387,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Wilmington?

Typical rent in Wilmington is $1,395 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in New Hanover County is $1,705.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wilmington?

Wilmington uses the FHA limit for all of New Hanover County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Wilmington?

The typical homeowner in Wilmington pays $2,558 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.67% of the home’s value; in New Hanover County, the rate is 0.54%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wilmington?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in New Hanover County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).