How much does it cost to rent in Wilmington, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,694. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Wilmington cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Wilmington falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #71 out of 126 cities at $1,694/mo.

When was Wilmington rent data last updated?

Wilmington rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NC

Wilmington

Name: Average Rent Prices in Wilmington, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 120,805·71st most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Wilmington, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,694/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.5%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

-$271

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Wilmington · $1,694

More affordable than 62% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

72/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% below what Wilmington's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,694/mo

Expected by trend

$1,902/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Wilmington's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,125

1 BR

$1,480

2 BR

$1,643

3 BR

$2,170

4 BR+

$2,612

Research median

$1,643/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,328/yr

At $1,694/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.5% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Wilmington, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 46.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

120,805

Median income

$66,738

Median age

37.1

Renters

52.4%

Age distribution

16.4%

30.7%

22.6%

12%

18.2%

Under 1816.4%

18–3430.7%

35–5422.6%

55–6412%

65+18.2%

Gender

46.6%

53.4%

Male46.6%

Female53.4%

Race & ethnicity

72.4%

14.5%

White72.4%

Black14.5%

Hispanic8.8%

Asian1.3%

Other3%

Education (25+)

18.8%

28.4%

46.8%

No HS diploma5.9%

HS diploma18.8%

Some college28.4%

Bachelor's+46.8%

Housing tenure

47.6%

52.4%

Owner47.6%

Renter52.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Wilmington, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,283 → $1,694

up 32.0%

Income

$54,066 → $66,738

up 23.4%

Population

115,976 → 120,805

up 4.2%

Renter share

53.8% → 52.4%

-1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

43.6% → 46.8%

+3.2 pts

Rent in Wilmington, NC has climbed 32.0% since 2021, going from about $1,283 per month to roughly $1,694 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $54,066 in 2021 to $66,738 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 8.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 115,976 to 120,805 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.2% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 43.6% to 46.8%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Wilmington, NC market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Wilmington

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View Wilmington rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Wilmington on your salary?

At $1,694/mo, how Wilmington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 22.9% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 28% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 15.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 34.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 38.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Wilmington rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Wilmington. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Wilmington

About renting in Wilmington, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Wilmington is $1,694/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,125/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,643/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,480/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,170/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($66,738/yr), Wilmington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Wilmington an affordable city for renters?

Wilmington is considered moderate for renters. At $1,694/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($66,738/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Wilmington slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Wilmington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,694/mo in Wilmington. The local median household income is $66,738/yr, meaning the typical Wilmington household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Wilmington?

Rent in Wilmington has increased 2.5% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Wilmington neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Wilmington are 28412 ($1,555/mo), 28401 ($1,648/mo), and 28405 ($1,685/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Wilmington is $1,694/mo.

How does Wilmington rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Wilmington is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #71 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,694/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wilmington?

Leland is nearby and more affordable at $1,671/mo, which is $23 less than Wilmington.

What percentage of Wilmington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52.4% of Wilmington households are renters, while 47.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Wilmington has a strong rental market.

How does Wilmington rent compare to the national average?

Wilmington's median rent of $1,694/mo is $271 (14%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #71 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $1,694/mo, rent takes ~30% of Wilmington's median household income ($66,738/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Wilmington 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Wilmington affordability calculator →

Nearby cities