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Rental Market Trends in Wilmington, NC

Updated September 2026

The average rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,415/month.

Rent in Wilmington is 15% lower than the national average rent of $1,665/month, making this one of the less expensive cities statewide.

$1,415/month

Average Rent

731 Sq Ft

Average Size

+5.8%

Change / Year

2,990

Available Apartments

Wilmington rent varies by unit size and layout:

  • Studio apartments in Wilmington average $1,230 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,415 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,691 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $2,018 or more per month.

Average Rent by Home Type

Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,230/month
512 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,415/month
731 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,691/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,018/month
1,333 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,301/month
722 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,567/month
808 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,245/month
1,321 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,628/month
1,692 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,620/month
626 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,728/month
802 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,049/month
849 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,574/month
440 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,763/month
780 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,007/month
1,354 Sq Ft
View Wilmington Apartments

How much has average rent changed in Wilmington, NC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 5.8%, which averages out to $83 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time

September 2026

2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time

Rent Ranges in Wilmington, NC

September 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Wilmington, NC
Percentage*
Rent Range
1% Below $700/month
4% $700 - $1,000/month
45% $1,001 - $1,500/month
40% $1,501 - $2,000/month
11% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington?

Based on current rent prices, Northchase, Lincoln Forest and Cape Fear Country Club are the most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Northchase
$1,445/month
779 Sq Ft
Lincoln Forest
$1,464/month
582 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,465/month
694 Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,466/month
711 Sq Ft
Kirkland
$1,478/month
785 Sq Ft
Pine Valley West
$1,559/month
794 Sq Ft
Murraysville
$1,583/month
762 Sq Ft
River Pointe-Masonboro Commons
$1,600/month
719 Sq Ft
Carolina Heights
$1,624/month
660 Sq Ft
Bayshore
$1,636/month
796 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington?

Based on current rent prices, Mayfaire, Landfall and Covil Estates are the most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mayfaire
$1,986/month
785 Sq Ft
Landfall
$1,950/month
781 Sq Ft
Covil Estates
$1,920/month
814 Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,835/month
771 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,801/month
709 Sq Ft
Masonboro
$1,759/month
788 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,746/month
813 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,735/month
788 Sq Ft
Smith Creek Village Townhomes
$1,693/month
800 Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,681/month
798 Sq Ft

Which Wilmington neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Wilmington with the most apartments available are Echo Farms, Landfall and Silver Lake .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,681/month
798 Sq Ft
Landfall
$1,950/month
781 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,735/month
788 Sq Ft
Mayfaire
$1,986/month
785 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,746/month
813 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,465/month
694 Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,466/month
711 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,801/month
709 Sq Ft
Pine Valley West
$1,559/month
794 Sq Ft
Kings Grant
$1,658/month
766 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Wilmington, NC?

Because the average rent in Wilmington is $1,415, you’ll want to make about $4,716 per month or $56,592 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 5.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Wilmington is 21.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,230 - $2,018. You can expect to pay 1.9% less for groceries, 1.7% more for utilities, and 5.3% more for transportation.

City

Wilmington, NC

2,990 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Wilmington, NC compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Wilmington, NC to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

View the Wilmington Area Guide

Apartment Averages

Northchase

Wilmington, NC

Mayfaire

Wilmington, NC

Studio
-
$1,523/month
One Bedroom
$1,198/month
$1,863/month
Two Bedroom
$1,359/month
$2,356/month
Three Bedroom
$1,628/month
$3,076/month
View Rentals
View Rentals

Apartment Communities in Wilmington We Think You'll Love

The Pines of Wilmington Apartments

The Pines of Wilmington Apartments

1002 Mayflower Dr,
Wilmington, NC 28412

1-3 Beds | $1,025 - $1,300

The Nixon

The Nixon

7015 Ruth Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28411

1-3 Beds | $1,889 - $2,410

Oasis at Riverlights

Oasis at Riverlights

4027 Watercraft Ferry Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28412

1-3 Beds | $1,430 - $2,001

Sidbury Crossing

Sidbury Crossing

4605 Sidbury Crossing Dr,
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

1-3 Beds | $1,541 - $2,041

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Wilmington?

The average rent in Wilmington is $1,415 per month, which is 15.0% lower than the national average of $1,665.

What is the average rent for a house in Wilmington?

The average rent for a house in Wilmington, NC is $2,245 per month.

What is the average rent for a townhome in Wilmington?

The average rent for a townhome in Wilmington, NC is $1,763 per month.

What is the average rent for a condo in Wilmington?

The average rent for a condo in Wilmington, NC is $1,620 per month.

Are rents going up or down in Wilmington?

Rents in Wilmington, NC are increasing, with prices up 5.8% year-over-year and $83 more per month.

What rent range is most common in Wilmington?

In Wilmington, NC, 45% of apartments fall between $1,001 - $1,500/month, though prices may vary depending on location and other factors.

United States North Carolina Wilmington Rental Trends

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 September 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.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity