Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Wilmington, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

120,805

Median Agei

37.1

Race & Ethnicityi

White

69.9%84,455

Black

14.4%17,422

Hispanic/Latino

8.8%10,612

Two or More

4.6%5,562

Asian

1.3%1,561

Other

0.8%959

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%192

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%42

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.3%2,716

High School Diploma

15.5%12,666

Some College (<1 yr)

5.5%4,509

Some College (1+ yr)

12.6%10,291

Associate's Degree

10.3%8,401

Bachelor's Degree

30.4%24,824

Master's Degree

11.5%9,354

Professional Degree

2.9%2,382

Doctorate

2%1,653

HS or Higher

94.1%

BA or Higher

46.8%

Graduate+

16.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$383,800

Median Renti

$1,395

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

47.6%26,972

Renter-Occupied

52.4%29,640

Total Units

62,836

Homeownership

47.6%

Vacancy Rate

9.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.2%587

$50K–$100K

1.1%296

$100K–$150K

2.7%729

$150K–$200K

7.4%1,986

$200K–$300K

19.4%5,221

$300K–$500K

37.4%10,087

$500K–$1M

22.7%6,122

$1M+

7.2%1,944

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,501

$500–$750

1,533

$750–$1,000

3,069

$1,000–$1,250

5,277

$1,250–$1,500

5,240

$1,500–$2,000

8,188

$2,000+

4,022

Year Built

2020 or later

3.8%2,364

2010–2019

13.8%8,644

2000–2009

15.4%9,691

1990–1999

15.2%9,555

1980–1989

13.7%8,637

1970–1979

11.3%7,102

1960–1969

6.1%3,850

1950–1959

6.1%3,849

1940–1949

5.6%3,530

1939 or earlier

8.9%5,614

Heating Fuel

Electricity

84.4%47,807

Utility Gas

12.9%7,295

Bottled/LP Gas

1.1%633

Fuel Oil

0.5%299

No Fuel

0.5%290

Other

0.2%108

Solar

0.2%86

Wood

0.1%70

Coal

0%24

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$66,738

Mean Household Incomei

$104,218

Per Capita Incomei

$49,405

Poverty Ratei

15.5%

Unemploymenti

4.3%

Labor Forcei

68,857

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.9%3,347

$10K–$15K

3.5%2,004

$15K–$20K

3.9%2,197

$20K–$25K

4.2%2,365

$25K–$30K

3.9%2,204

$30K–$35K

4.1%2,309

$35K–$40K

3.8%2,161

$40K–$45K

4.3%2,418

$45K–$50K

4.5%2,560

$50K–$60K

7.3%4,130

$60K–$75K

9.8%5,536

$75K–$100K

12.2%6,881

$100K–$125K

8.8%4,960

$125K–$150K

6.1%3,462

$150K–$200K

7%3,973

$200K+

10.8%6,105

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

3,414

Residentsi

4,413

Avg. Tenant Renti

$443/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

62 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing979 homes59% occupied$370/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers1,591 homes64% occupied$521/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8644 homes92% occupied$365/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC86 homes97% occupied$410/mo rent

811/PRAC11 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $66,738/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

79.7%

Very low income$20K–$33K/yr

15.4%

Low income$33K–$53K/yr

4.6%

Moderate / aboveOver $53K/yr

0.3%

Who Receives This Housing

79.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

79.1% of subsidized households are minority

23% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

41.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

6,9275.7%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,818

United Kingdom

505

Korea

270

Canada

210

China

192

Germany

170

Philippines

131

Guatemala

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

64,446

Avg. Commutei

18.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

65,608

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

5,451(5.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

89.1%Insured

10.9%Uninsured