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ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28403

Pop. 40,319·New Hanover County·86th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina
Median rent (all units)
$1,754/mo
Year-over-Year
+6.7%
Month-over-Month
+0.8%
vs US Median
-$211
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 28403 · $1,754
More affordable than 55% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,965/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,140
1 BR
$1,510
2 BR
$1,650
3 BR
$2,170
4 BR+
$2,310
Research median
$1,650/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$21,048/yr
At $1,754/mo median
Location
StateNC
CountyNew Hanover County
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 6.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+6.7% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28403 (Wilmington, NC) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 48.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
40,319
Median income
$54,547
Median age
28.5
Renters
64.3%
Age distribution
12.5%
45.1%
18.9%
13%
Under 1812.5%
18–3445.1%
35–5418.9%
55–6410.5%
65+13%
Gender
44.8%
55.2%
Male44.8%
Female55.2%
Race & ethnicity
77.4%
12.2%
White77.4%
Black12.2%
Hispanic8%
Asian1.8%
Other0.5%
Education (25+)
18.2%
27.7%
48.1%
No HS diploma6%
HS diploma18.2%
Some college27.7%
Bachelor's+48.1%
Housing tenure
35.7%
64.3%
Owner35.7%
Renter64.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28403 in Wilmington, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,298 → $1,754
up 35.1%
Income
$47,422 → $54,547
up 15.0%
Population
39,745 → 40,319
up 1.4%
Renter share
64.5% → 64.3%
-0.2 pts
Bachelor's+
46.9% → 48.1%
+1.2 pts
Median age
30.2 → 28.5
-1.7 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 28403 in Wilmington, NC has climbed by $456 per month, settling near $1,754 after starting the period at $1,298. Census figures show median household income at $54,547 today, compared with $47,422 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 20.1 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 39,745 to 40,319 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.4% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 28403

Last updated: July 20, 2026

ZIP code 28403 covers Wilmington, NC. The median rent here is $1,754/mo as of July 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,510/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,650/mo.

At 39% of local median household income ($54,547/yr), ZIP 28403 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 28403?

As of July 20, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 28403 (Wilmington, NC) is $1,754. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 28403 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 28403's median rent of $1,754/mo is $211 (11%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo.

How does ZIP 28403 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28403 falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #86 out of 227 ZIPs at $1,754/mo.

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28403?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $70,000/year (~$34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,754/mo in ZIP 28403. The local median household income is $54,547/yr, meaning the typical household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28403?

Rent in ZIP 28403 has increased 6.7% over the past year as of July 20, 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Is ZIP 28403 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 28403 is considered moderate for renters. At $1,754/mo, rent takes approximately 39% of the local median household income ($54,547/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 28403 slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

What percentage of ZIP 28403 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 64.3% of ZIP 28403 households are renters, while 35.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, ZIP 28403 has a strong rental market.

How does ZIP 28403 compare to the rest of Wilmington?

ZIP 28403 is pricier than Wilmington as a whole. At $1,754/mo, it's $60 above the Wilmington citywide median of $1,694/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 28403 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 28403 reflects July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
39%
MODERATE

At $1,754/mo, rent takes ~39% of ZIP 28403's median household income ($54,547/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 28403 39%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
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