Living in Wilmington, NC
Small city in North Carolina
Wilmington is a small city in North Carolina, home to about 119,000 people, with 300,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Wilmington a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Low taxes: about $1,615 state income tax per resident, 0.72% property tax
- Easy flying: MYR is 70 mi away
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $390k and rents for $2,180 a month
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 4 within 9 mi
- Smaller job market: about 300,000 people live within 31 mi
- Fewer outdoor escapes: flat, with few parks for its size
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Wilmington ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Wilmington: common questions
What is the cost of living in Wilmington?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $390k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,180 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 96, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Wilmington?
North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.72% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Wilmington safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.6× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Wilmington?
Wilmington has mild winters: winter days average around 59°F and summer days around 89°F.
Does Wilmington get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.91 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Wilmington?
The nearest major airport is MYR, about 70 mi away.
How Wilmington scores
Each bar compares Wilmington with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Wilmington right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.