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Living in
Wilmington Island.
Wilmington Island is an unincorporated community in Chatham County, GA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Wilmington Island
If you're considering a move here, know that Wilmington Island is an affluent residential suburb where most people commute into Savannah for work—expect about a 28-minute drive on average. The median household income sits around $93,924, and homes average $404,900, reflecting a mature, established community with over half its residents holding college degrees. Housing costs are reasonable compared to many coastal areas, though rental inventory is tighter (median rent around $1,752), and the area has been experiencing slight population decline, which suggests a stable rather than booming market.
Wilmington Island at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
3.7%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
-8.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.7% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Wilmington Island: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wilmington Island, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (12.5%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
23.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.5%
of households
Married Couples
57.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% above GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Wilmington Island
In Wilmington Island, rent runs 26% above the GA average, and home values are 33% above the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,103
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below GA average
Unemployment in Wilmington Island
Unemployment in Chatham County, which includes Wilmington Island, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the GA average.
Unemployment rate
Wilmington Island: Chatham County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Chatham County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Wilmington Island is about 5% of Chatham County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Wilmington Island Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.3 min avg
How Wilmington Island residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wilmington Island, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 82 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safety
Crime rates
Crime data not available
No police agency in the FBI's crime data covers Wilmington Island, so there's no local crime rate to show.
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chatham County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chatham County, which includes Wilmington Island, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $59,250 |
| 2024 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $61,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Rip Current | $107,250 |
| 2022 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2021 | 16 | Rip Current | $43,000 |
| 2020 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $62,250 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,750 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Chatham County, county-wide
Wilmington Island is about 5% of Chatham County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chatham County, which includes Wilmington Island, is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
151
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Chatham County, county-wide
Wilmington Island is about 5% of Chatham County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wilmington Island has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
81
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
22
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
108
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 40°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 65°F | 43°F | 2.80" |
| Mar | 71°F | 49°F | 3.50" |
| Apr | 78°F | 55°F | 3.39" |
| May | 85°F | 63°F | 3.62" |
| Jun | 90°F | 71°F | 6.65" |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 5.75" |
| Aug | 91°F | 73°F | 5.46" |
| Sep | 86°F | 69°F | 4.35" |
| Oct | 79°F | 59°F | 3.72" |
| Nov | 70°F | 48°F | 2.39" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 3.21" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wilmington Island
Uninsured
7.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Wilmington Island's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Georgia Regional Hosp Savannah
Psychiatric · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Savannah
Savannah Health Services Llc Dba Memorial Health University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Savannah
Coastal Harbor Treatment Center
Psychiatric · 7.3 mi away · Savannah
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wilmington Island
Wilmington Island's student/teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 52.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Wilmington Island (within 15 miles)
Savannah College of Art and Design
8.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 15,243 students · in-state tuition $42,665 · 69% graduate · median earnings $51,635 (10 yrs after entry)
South University-Savannah Online
7.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 6,433 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 17% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,833 students · in-state tuition $5,750 · 30% graduate · median earnings $44,180 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 270 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 37% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Pulaski National Monument, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wilmington Island
Wilmington Island has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Pulaski National Monument (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
3 mi awayReconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
33 mi awayFort Frederica National Monument
National Monument
59 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
83 mi awayCumberland Island National Seashore
National Seashore
84 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
89 mi awayCities Near Wilmington Island
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wilmington Island?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wilmington Island FAQ
Is Wilmington Island, Georgia affordable?⌄
Wilmington Island's median rent is $1,752/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $93,924/year. Median home value is $404,900.
What is the job market like in Wilmington Island, Georgia?⌄
Chatham County, which includes Wilmington Island, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wilmington Island, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Wilmington Island is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,752/month and median household income is $93,924/year. The median home value is $404,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wilmington Island, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Wilmington Island is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from