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City · 48,370 residents · Wilson County, North Carolina

Wilson , North Carolina

In Wilson, a typical home is worth $210,700 and typical rent is $971 a month. Compared with all of Wilson County, the typical home value is 13% higher, typical household income is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $210,700

    13% above the county

    27% below North Carolina

    • Wilson
    • County
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $971a month

    About the same as the county

    21% below North Carolina

    • Wilson
    • County
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $52,485a year

    7% below the county

    27% below North Carolina

    • Wilson
    • County
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    49%

    11 points below the county

    17 points below North Carolina

    • Wilson
    • County
    • North Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$215,081
0.8% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,494 a month
2% more than 12 months ago

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

Wilson is in Wilson 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 Wilson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wilson apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Rocky Mount, the typical home value is $165,700: 21% less than in Wilson ($210,700).

  2. Nearby, in Selma, the typical rent is $820: 16% less than in Wilson ($971).

  3. 49% of households in Wilson own their home, against 60% in Wilson County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Wilson

What homes there are in Wilson, 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

The detached house is the most common home in Wilson: 60% of homes, near the figure in Wilson County (63%).

Year built

The typical year built in Wilson is 1983, about the same as in Wilson County (1986).

In Wilson, 12% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 64% in Wilson 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

By price, most homes in Wilson sit under the FHA limit for Wilson County ($541,287): about 96%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 58% of rented homes in Wilson cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Wilson County ($1,069); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,436 a month

Wilson County: $1,386 a month

Without a mortgage

$582 a month

Wilson County: $483 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Wilson County: 58%

In Wilson, 66% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,436 a month, about the same as in Wilson County.

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

The typical home value in Wilson rose 48% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Wilson County (51%).

Much as in Wilson County, the typical rent in Wilson rose 27% since 2015–2019.

To compare: typical income in Wilson rose 25%; the home, +48%; the rent, +27%.

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

MeasureWilsonWilson CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.5%6.3%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.0%2.4%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.312.362.442.53
Drive alone 79%80%72%69%
Carpool 10%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 7%8%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Wilson County, the rental vacancy rate in Wilson is 6.5%.

More than one person per room: that is how 3.0% of households in Wilson live, near the figure in Wilson County (2.4%).

Much as in Wilson County, a household in Wilson has 2.31 people on average.

The car rules in Wilson: 79% 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 Wilson?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Wilson, worth $210,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Wilson, which is $52,485 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $74,443 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wilson. 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 $7,375 (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

$1,737

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$206,883
Total interest
$297,656
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,558 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,225 a month

  • Tight

    $1,225 to $1,575 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,575 a month

    Your payment · 40%

Compared with the typical household income in Wilson ($52,485 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,737
Principal & interest$1,401
Property tax$155
Home insurance$88
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$93

You need at least $7,375 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

Wilson and Wilson County

Wilson is in Wilson 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).

Wilson's own numbers

Typical home value
$210,700
Typical monthly rent
$971
Typical yearly household income
$52,485
Households that own their home
49%
Effective property tax rate
0.88%

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

Numbers for all of Wilson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,069
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+65%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%

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 Wilson County.

Everything about Wilson County

Buying

Buying a home in Wilson

A typical home in Wilson is worth $210,700: 13% above the county and 27% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Wilson ($52,485 a year), a typical home costs 4.0 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.

  • Wilson 4.0 years
  • County 3.3 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Wilson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Wilson County rose 89% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.9% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +65% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +89% +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

Wilson next to Wilson 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
  • Wilson $210,700
  • County $186,000
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wilson $971
  • County $953
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wilson $52,485
  • County $56,423
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wilson next to Wilson County and North Carolina
Measure Wilson Wilson County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $210,700 $186,000 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $971 $953 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $52,485 $56,423 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 49% 60% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,860 $1,471 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.88% 0.79% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 47% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Wilson 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 Wilson

For a typical $210,700 home in Wilson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wilson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,737a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,375
    Cash to close
    $13,696
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $93

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,698a month

    Down payment
    $10,535
    Cash to close
    $16,856
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $100

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,384a month

    Down payment
    $42,140
    Cash to close
    $48,461
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,579a month

    Down payment
    $31,605
    Cash to close
    $37,926
    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 Wilson and for Wilson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wilson

0.88%of the home’s value each year

$1,860 a year for the typical owner in Wilson.

  • Wilson 0.88%
  • County 0.79%
  • 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 Wilson County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.7%
553
Of those, with NFIP insurance
51%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.7% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 51% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wilson

Typical rent in Wilson is $971 a month: about the same as the county. In Wilson, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Wilson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,069 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.56 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Wilson 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 $843 $16.21 $33,720
1 bedroom $849 $16.33 $33,960
2 bedrooms $1,069 $20.56 $42,760
3 bedrooms $1,356 $26.08 $54,240
4 bedrooms $1,658 $31.88 $66,320

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 Wilson

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wilson has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,100 in 27893 to $1,210 in 27896.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Wilson County ($1,069).

  • 27893 $1,100$1,400
  • 27896 $1,210$1,540

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wilson 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 Wilson

HUD lists 39 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Wilson. These are the largest.

  • Whitfield Homes 722 Hooks St S, Wilson 27893 245 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Wilson · Average payment: $309 a month · Average wait: 9 months (252) 291-2245
  • E. B. Jordan Homes 213 Broad St W, Wilson 27893 212 homes, 210 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Wilson · Average payment: $368 a month · Average wait: 26 months (252) 291-2245
  • Forest Road 313A Hackney St E, Wilson 27893 160 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Wilson · Average payment: $393 a month · Average wait: 13 months · Homes at several sites (252) 291-2245
  • Beacon Pointe 1901 Lipscomb Rd E, Wilson 27893 104 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 46 · 4 bd: 2 · In service since 2006 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Crescent Gardens Apartments 1602 Kincaid Ave N, Wilson 27893 100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 60 · 2 bd: 19 · 3 bd: 10 · 4 bd: 11 · In service since 2014 · For older adults, families (252) 291-8853

See all 42 buildings in Wilson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wilson

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 is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Wilson County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wilson

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wilson or Wilson County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Wilson 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 Wilson

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

  • Wilson Community Improvement Association, Inc.

    504 Green St E, Wilson · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    252-243-4855x214

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 18 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (252) 977-3141

  • Dhic, Inc.

    113 S Wilmington St, Raleigh · 40 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (919) 832-4345

Every agency in Wilson County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Wilson

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves 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 Wilson

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Wilson Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (252) 291-2245

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

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

Everything about Wilson County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Wilson 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 Wilson.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Wilson

Short answers with the numbers for Wilson and all of Wilson 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 Wilson?

The typical home value in Wilson is $210,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Wilson County it is $186,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Wilson?

Typical rent in Wilson is $971 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Wilson County is $1,069.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wilson?

Wilson uses the FHA limit for all of Wilson 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 Wilson?

The typical homeowner in Wilson pays $1,860 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.88% of the home’s value; in Wilson County, the rate is 0.79%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Wilson County. 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).