Skip to main content
Population Review

Census ACS · #123 MSA

Wilmington Metro Area

The Wilmington, Nc Metropolitan Statistical Area has 440,578 residents. The median household income is $73,687 and the median home value is $328,000.

440,578

Population

230

People / sq mi

$73,687

Median Income

$328,000

Median Home Value

The Wilmington CBSA covers 1,914 sq mi of land at 230.2 people per square mile.

Race & Ethnicity

White78.8%
Black or African American10.4%
Asian0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1.7%

Economy & Income

$73,687

Median Household Income

$44,459

Per Capita Income

6.7%

Poverty Rate

2.9%

Unemployment

Cost of Living

The Wilmington metro's price level is 96.4 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 3.6% lower the US average. The local median income of $73,687 has the buying power of $76,421 in average-priced US metros.

96.4

Price Level (US = 100)

$76,421

COL-Adjusted Median Income

$73,687

Nominal Median Income

Housing

$328,000

Median Home Value

$1,313

Median Rent

71.2%

Homeownership

Education

93.1%

High School+

38.5%

Bachelor's+

Commute

0.4%

Drive Alone

15.5%

Work From Home

23.6 min

Avg Commute

47.1%

Foreign Born

Wilmington spans this state

Nearby metros

Largest cities in North Carolina

Largest counties in North Carolina

Part of North Carolina

Other metros

Metro areas in North Carolina

Metro rankings

Frequently Asked Questions

The Wilmington, Nc Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 440,578 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #123 largest CBSA in the US.

The median household income in the Wilmington metro area is $73,687, with a per capita income of $44,459.

The Wilmington, Nc CBSA spans the state of North Carolina.

Where to stay near Wilmington

Visiting or relocating to the Wilmington metro area? Compare hotels and short-term rentals across the region — live availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Wilmington

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a move to Wilmington?

Get relocation and cost-of-living insights for the Wilmington metro by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Data for the Wilmington, Nc CBSA (48900) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.

Wilmington skews on age — the median resident is 45.1, older than the national median. With 440,578 residents, Wilmington is a metro area in NC.

Households take in a median $73,687, comfortably below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate, 6.7%, is on the lower side for US metro areas and below the national 12.4%. A typical home is worth $328,000, with typical rent around $1,313.

College attainment is above the local norm at 38.5%, above the national 35.0%.

The age structure shapes everything downstream in Wilmington — from housing demand to the mix of working-age earners reflected in the income figures above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.