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Living in
Wilson.
About
Life in Wilson
If you're considering Wilson, know that you're looking at an affordable, working-class city with solid job options and a genuinely diverse population—about half African American, 40% white, and meaningful Latino and Asian communities. Housing is cheap by any standard (median home around $211,000, median rent under $1,000), and the median household income sits around $52,000, which means your money stretches further here than in Raleigh or coastal areas. The job market is stable thanks to anchor employers like Bridgestone's massive tire plant and various pharmaceutical and manufacturing operations, though it's not a booming tech hub.
Wilson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.0%
Foreign-Born
6.9%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Wilson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wilson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (46.2%), and 11.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.9%
of residents
65 and Older
18.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.6%
of households
Married Couples
38.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.31
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 21% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Wilson
In Wilson, rent runs 21% below the NC average, and home values are 27% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,860
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $215,081 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts above NC average
Unemployment in Wilson
Unemployment in Wilson is 1.9 percentage points higher than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Wilson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.3 min avg
How Wilson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wilson, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
Pitt-Greenville Airport (PGV)
Regional airport · few flights41k passengers boarded in 2025
- 50 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M 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 44% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wilson runs 44% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
475.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,168.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wilson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
76.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wilson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wilson County, which includes Wilson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Excessive Heat | $63,000 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
| 2023 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $194,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $955,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,500 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.5M |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $548,500 |
| 2018 | 10 | Winter Weather | $1.5M |
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
Wilson County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Edgecombe County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 22 miles from Wilson) is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
57
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Edgecombe County, NC (22 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wilson has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
54°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
1.9"
Hot Days/Year
51
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
60
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 33°F | 3.75" |
| Feb | 55°F | 34°F | 3.04" |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 4.16" |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 3.88" |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 3.92" |
| Jun | 87°F | 67°F | 4.14" |
| Jul | 90°F | 71°F | 5.75" |
| Aug | 88°F | 70°F | 5.33" |
| Sep | 83°F | 64°F | 6.08" |
| Oct | 73°F | 52°F | 3.36" |
| Nov | 64°F | 41°F | 3.29" |
| Dec | 56°F | 35°F | 3.60" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wilson
Wilson has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
12.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Wilson Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wilson
Wilson's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Wilson
Public · 2-year · 1,373 students · in-state tuition $2,572 · 33% graduate · median earnings $38,881 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 982 students · in-state tuition $39,050 · 56% graduate · median earnings $52,876 (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, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wilson
Wilson has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Moores Creek National Battlefield (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wilson
Wilson County Public Library
249 Nash St W, Wilson
East Branch Library
1006-C Ward Blvd, Wilson
Cities Near Wilson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wilson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wilson FAQ
Is Wilson, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Wilson's median rent is $971/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $52,485/year. Median home value is $210,700.
Is Wilson, North Carolina safe?⌄
Wilson's violent crime rate was 475 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2168 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wilson, North Carolina?⌄
Wilson has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Wilson, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Wilson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $971/month and median household income is $52,485/year. The median home value is $210,700. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wilson, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Wilson is 21 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