The typical owner-occupied home in Wilmington is worth about $383,800, 33% above the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 15% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,558 a year in property taxes, about 0.67% of their home's value, close to the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $66,738 a year, so the median home costs 5.8 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 48% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 66% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Wilmington at a glance
| Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $383,800 | $288,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,558 | $1,896 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.67% | 0.66% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $66,738 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 48% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 66% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,020 | $1,631 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.2% | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,395 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 33.7% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1989 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.9% | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 120,805 | 10,730,404 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Wilmington
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Wilmington home of $383,800 with 20% down costs about $2,440 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,079, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $104,558 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 44% of the median Wilmington household income of $66,738; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $245,000.
The median rent here is $1,395 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,045 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $76,760 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $307,040 |
| Principal and interest | $2,065 |
| Property taxes (0.67% a year) | $214 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $160 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,440 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,433 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $376,848 |
| Principal and interest | $2,535 |
| Property taxes (0.67% a year) | $214 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $160 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $170 |
| Total per month | $3,079 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Wilmington
What is the median home value in Wilmington?
About $383,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Wilmington?
Homeowners pay a median $2,558 a year, which is about 0.67% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Wilmington?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,440 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $104,558 a year.
More about Wilmington
- Mortgage Refinance in Wilmington
- Debt Relief in Wilmington
- Home Equity Loans in Wilmington
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data