What it's like to live in Wilmington
Wilmington is a mid-size city in North Carolina with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Wilmington deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and very rainy.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 60" of rain per year
How Wilmington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Wilmington
Based on Wilmington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,790
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,800 a year
- 54% of Wilmington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$76,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,380
- Homes cost 5.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,395/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,395 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $383,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $383,800 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 14% below US
3.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 23% above US
406 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2915/100k · Wilmington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 29% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 30% above US
47% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 47% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
29 public schools inside the boundary
There are 29 public schools inside the boundary and 12 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Moores Creek National Battlefield (21 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Wilmington's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,395/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals.
See all the data for Wilmington →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Wilmington
All North Carolina guides →Moving to Myrtle Grove →
5 mi away · pop. 12,637
Rent $1,463/mo · Income $113,463
Compare with Wilmington →Moving to Murraysville →
6 mi away · pop. 16,339
Rent $1,777/mo · Income $81,167
Compare with Wilmington →Moving to Jacksonville →
46 mi away · pop. 71,279
Rent $1,321/mo · Income $57,697
Compare with Wilmington →Not sure Wilmington is the one?
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