Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 18% of Residents
Under 20
20%
Over 65
19%
Wilmington, NC
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,382
Population
124,018
Renter Mix
52% Rent
Charming port city near the Atlantic coast
University
•
Port City
•
Quaint
Wilmington, North Carolina is just the charming port city that you’ve been dreaming of. Situated in coastal Southeast North Carolina, this hidden gem is surrounded by lush greenery and foliage, making you feel as though you’ve found the perfect home in a botanical garden. Quaint and charming, this family-friendly Southern city offers a tranquil atmosphere of tree-lined avenues and neighborhoods with a traditional feel of comfort. This city is also the home of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, making this a great place to find off-campus apartments as well.
A botanical wonderland, this area of North Carolina is known for its lush gardens, such as Airlie Gardens, and its rich, 230-block historic district. Visit a part of our nation’s history at the Battleship North Carolina, or stroll the avenues of beautiful downtown Wilmington. Have a weekend getaway at the Arboretum, or see a show at the lavish Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Enjoy fresh seafood with a view of Cape Fear River at Pilot House or Elijah’s. From coastal ports to idyllic neighborhoods, the easygoing mix of atmosphere and personality makes Wilmington a charming place to call home. When looking for your next apartment, let Wilmington’s Southern charm and hospitality bring you right to the door of your new home.
Explore the City
Wilmington and the Historic District feature Victorian and Italianate homes.
The USS North Carolina battleship rests in view of Wilmington along the Cape Fear River.
In Wimington along Front Street, tourists and residents pour in and out of bars, breweries.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$57,873
Average: $87,063
Education
48,374
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
63,905
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Wilmington has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
52%
Non-Renters
48%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
32%
Other Education
68%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,245 for a studio, $1,386 for one bedroom, $1,650 for two bedrooms, and $2,002 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Wilmington has increased by 1.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,386/month
731 Sq Ft
House
$2,277/month
1,232 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,563/month
642 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,110/month
1,237 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 5.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Wilmington is 21.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,245 - $2,002. You can expect to pay 1.9% less for groceries, 3.9% more for utilities, and 5.3% more for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Wilmington, NC is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
624 Students
Public
Grades K-5
575 Students
Public
Grades K-5
556 Students
Public
Grades K-5
440 Students
Public
Grades K-5
605 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
673 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
645 Students
The International School at Gregory
Public
Grades K-8
522 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
882 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
683 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,226 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
226 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,975 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,220 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,466 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- New Hanover County Arboretum
- Airlie Gardens
- Cape Fear Museum of History & Science
- Children's Museum of Wilmington
Airports
- Wilmington International
Top Apartments in Wilmington
Houses for Rent in Wilmington
Property Management Companies in Wilmington, NC
Tribute Properties, Inc.
-
27
Communities
-
6,301
Units
-
8
Cities
16 Communities in Wilmington
Hawthorne Residential Partners
-
238
Communities
-
58,369
Units
-
110
Cities
15 Communities in Wilmington
Greystar
-
3,524
Communities
-
969,267
Units
-
896
Cities
11 Communities in Wilmington
Bell Partners
-
173
Communities
-
53,483
Units
-
97
Cities
9 Communities in Wilmington
Drucker & Falk
-
161
Communities
-
37,987
Units
-
55
Cities
5 Communities in Wilmington
Highmark Residential
-
209
Communities
-
60,106
Units
-
113
Cities
3 Communities in Wilmington
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.