Best Life Index › States › North Carolina › Cities › Wilmington

North Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Wilmington?

What it costs to live in Wilmington, and how it compares with other North Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

26

64th best value in North Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Carolina cities.

Overall livability

29

61st overall in North Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Wilmington is home to about 115,976 people. A typical home runs $279,900 and a household earns around $54,100, a price-to-income ratio of 5.2. Among North Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 64th for value and 61st overall.

Wilmington at a glance

Median home price

$279,900

68th in NC of 71

Median rent

$1,093/mo

Median household income

$54,100

Home price to income

5.2x

Unemployment

5.3%

31st in NC of 71

School rating

4/10

38th in NC of 71

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NC of 71

Walk score

13/100

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‹ See all top North Carolina cities ranked  ยท  North Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Carolina only. Updated 2026.