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Living in
Leland.
About
Life in Leland
The median home value sits around $398,900 with a median household income of $91,977, which positions this as an affluent area compared to much of rural North Carolina, though it's not as expensive as major urban centers. Your commute to Wilmington for work is manageable at about 24.5 minutes, and the 3.6% unemployment rate suggests decent job availability locally. Recreation-wise, you get three parks and 150 acres of wetlands access at Westgate Nature Park, plus plans for a major nature preserve with hiking trails, though don't expect the outdoor scene of mountain towns.
Leland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Foreign-Born
4.4%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
+52.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Leland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Leland, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.0%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.3%
of residents
65 and Older
28.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.5%
of households
Married Couples
55.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 41% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Leland
In Leland, rent runs 41% above the NC average, and home values are 38% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,419
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2010
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $382,634 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Leland
Unemployment in Leland is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Leland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.7 min avg
How Leland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Leland, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Small hub913k 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.
Safetyviolent crime 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Leland runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
126.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
711.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Leland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Brunswick County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Brunswick County, which includes Leland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Rip Current | $100,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $179,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $127,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Rip Current | $3,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Tornado | $1.3M |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
| 2018 | 8 | Flash Flood | $750,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Brunswick County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in New Hanover County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 11 miles from Leland) is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
82
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: New Hanover County, NC (11 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Leland has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
61.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.9"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
37
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 36°F | 3.81" |
| Feb | 60°F | 38°F | 3.47" |
| Mar | 67°F | 44°F | 3.97" |
| Apr | 75°F | 53°F | 3.07" |
| May | 81°F | 61°F | 4.54" |
| Jun | 87°F | 69°F | 5.67" |
| Jul | 90°F | 73°F | 6.86" |
| Aug | 88°F | 72°F | 8.16" |
| Sep | 84°F | 67°F | 8.69" |
| Oct | 76°F | 56°F | 4.66" |
| Nov | 67°F | 45°F | 3.56" |
| Dec | 60°F | 39°F | 3.69" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Leland
Leland has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
Strategic Behavioral Center-leland
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wilmington Treatment Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.8 mi away · Wilmington
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Wilmington
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.
Education17.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Leland
Leland's student/teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 43.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Leland (within 15 miles)
University of North Carolina Wilmington
9.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 14,922 students · in-state tuition $7,266 · 73% graduate · median earnings $61,019 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 9,764 students · in-state tuition $2,772 · 44% graduate · median earnings $41,969 (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: Moores Creek National Battlefield, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Leland
Leland has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Moores Creek National Battlefield (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
17 mi awayPublic Libraries in Leland
Leland Branch Library
487 Village Rd, Leland
Cities Near Leland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Leland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Leland FAQ
Is Leland, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Leland's median rent is $1,735/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $91,977/year. Median home value is $398,900.
Is Leland, North Carolina safe?⌄
Leland's violent crime rate was 126 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 711 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Leland, North Carolina?⌄
Leland has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Leland, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Leland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,735/month and median household income is $91,977/year. The median home value is $398,900. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Leland, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Leland is 25 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