Wilmington had 126,809 residents on July 1, 2025, the Census Bureau estimates, up 19% since 2010. Age, income, households and housing figures.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and is linked to the table it came from. Questions about Census data: the Census Bureau’s customer line, 1-800-923-8282. This page is updated when the bureau publishes new figures.
Wilmington had an estimated 126,809 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 city and town population estimates. That is 11,358 more people (9.8%) than the 2020 census count of 115,451 and 20,333 more (19.1%) than the 2010 census count of 106,476. The Census Bureau’s QuickFacts page for Wilmington summarizes the same releases.
What this means for you
- Wilmington is growing faster now than it did in the 2010s: about 11,400 people in five years, against about 9,000 in the whole decade before 2020.
- It is a renters’ city: just over half of occupied homes are rented.
- The city is younger than the county around it, with a median age of 37.1 against 39.9.
Growth since 2010
| Year | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 106,476 | 2010 census |
| 2020 | 115,451 | 2020 census |
| 2021 | 118,026 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2022 | 121,400 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2023 | 123,607 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2024 | 125,438 | Estimate, July 1 |
| 2025 | 126,809 | Estimate, July 1 |
The estimates start from a 2020 base of 115,494, slightly different from the census count because the bureau adjusts for boundary and other changes. Each year’s estimate is revised when the next is published.
Who lives here
From the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, which average five years of survey answers:
| Measure | Wilmington | New Hanover County |
|---|---|---|
| Population (survey average) | 120,805 | 235,229 |
| Median age | 37.1 | 39.9 |
| Median household income | $66,738 | $75,166 |
| Households | 56,612 | 104,856 |
| People per household | 2.05 | 2.19 |
| Housing units | 62,836 | 120,050 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 26,972 (48%) | 64,383 (61%) |
| Renter-occupied homes | 29,640 (52%) | 40,473 (39%) |
| Median home value (owner’s estimate) | $383,800 | $387,800 |
| Median gross rent | $1,395 a month | $1,417 a month |
In Wilmington, 46.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 16.0% of residents live below the poverty line, according to the same survey’s subject tables.
The survey figures are averages over 2020 to 2024, so the population there is lower than the 2025 estimate. Home values are what owners say their homes are worth; for market prices, see our home prices page.
Wilmington and its neighbors
| Place | 2025 estimate | 2020 census | 2010 census | Change since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 126,809 | 115,451 | 106,476 | +9.8% |
| New Hanover County | 245,959 | 225,702 | 202,667 | +9.0% |
| Leland | 35,731 | 22,908 | 13,527 | +56.0% |
| Carolina Beach | 6,870 | 6,564 | 5,706 | +4.7% |
Sources: Vintage 2025 estimates; 2020 and 2010 censuses.
Leland, about nine miles away in Brunswick County, is the fastest-growing neighbor: it has added more than 12,800 people since 2020. Wilmington is just over half of New Hanover County’s population, and the rest of the county grew at about the same pace as the city.
Two unincorporated communities near the city, Myrtle Grove and Murraysville, are census-designated places, not towns, so the Census Bureau publishes no annual estimate for them. The 2020-2024 survey puts Myrtle Grove at about 12,637 residents and Murraysville at about 16,339.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Wilmington, NC? The Census Bureau estimates Wilmington had 126,809 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 115,451.
How fast is Wilmington growing? Wilmington grew 8.4% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 106,476 to 115,451, and has added an estimated 11,358 people (9.8%) since 2020.
What is the median household income in Wilmington, NC? $66,738 in the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, compared with $75,166 for New Hanover County.
Do more people rent or own in Wilmington? Slightly more rent. Of about 56,612 occupied homes, 52% are rented and 48% are owned, according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
What is the population of New Hanover County? The Census Bureau estimates New Hanover County had 245,959 residents on July 1, 2025, up 9% from the 2020 census count of 225,702.
More: home prices, schools and moving to Wilmington.
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