Wilmington, NC

Census ZIP code profile for Wilmington, NC - 6 ZIPs, total population 186,140. Median income, home value, education, commute, and demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates.

U.S. Census Bureau, SimpleMaps US ZIP Code Database, delivery-area ZIP coverage

ACS city ledger plate

Sheet WILMINGTON-NC · Wilmington, NC 6 ZIPs · 186,140 pop · #10297/25278 · New Hanover County

INC-HIGH · RANK-MID · ABOVE-PEER · BOOK-MID · OWN-LOW · POP-MID · SPREAD-WIDE · HOME-MID

  • INC-HIGH $77,143
  • RANK-MID #10297/25278
  • ABOVE-PEER over Castle Hayne
  • BOOK-MID 6 ZIPs
  • OWN-LOW 60% owners
  • POP-MID 186,140
  • SPREAD-WIDE 28403→28409
  • HOME-MID $374,100

Nearest income peer: Castle Hayne, NC ( $4,806 income $)

Instrument codes from this city’s ACS household income, national rank, county-peer gap, ZIP book, owner tenure, population scale, intra-city income spread, and home-value band, not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Wilmington

Lowest/highest poles plus county-sharing cities nearest Wilmington on average ZIP median household income. Full ladder: /cities.

median HH income

What this shows County-sharing peers only, not the full US city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the mosaic is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-25

National city placement

According to ACS 5-Year Estimates, Wilmington, NC sits among US cities with an above-median household income, on a mid-size population base, across a compact ZIP cluster.

Top 41%
household income vs 25,278 US cities
186,140
city population (Census)
6
USPS ZIP codes covered
$77,143
avg ZIP median income

Income percentile ranks this city's average ZIP median household income against 25,278 US cities with ACS income on at least one ZIP. Scale and ZIP-spread words come from Census population and USPS ZIP coverage.

A above-median income city on a compact ZIP cluster (6 codes). Income averages $77,143, rent $1,448 , commute about 20 minutes. Sibling ZIPs here are close enough that a two-ZIP compare often answers which side of town.

Wilmington sits in the lower half of New Hanover County on income: Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach report more, and only Castle Hayne reports less. Wrightsville Beach marks the far end of that range at $172,500, 124% above Wilmington.

Within-city ZIP comparison

Where the ZIP codes inside Wilmington differ

Income is the clearest internal divide in Wilmington. ZIP 28403 reports $54,547 in median household income, while ZIP 28409 reports $111,048. The city average sits between those published endpoints, so it is a starting point rather than a substitute for the ZIP records.

Income high-to-low ratio
2.0×

28403 to 28409

Home-value high-to-low ratio
1.4×

28401 to 28409

Poverty-rate spread
20.5 points

28411 to 28403

Derived from the published ACS 2023 ZIP-level records shown on this site. A high-to-low ratio compares the highest and lowest available ZIP values; it is not a score or forecast.

Population concentration

Wilmington residents fan out across many ZIPs

Population is spread across 6 codes in Wilmington. The densest, 28403, still represents only about 19% of the 186,140 residents, so no single ZIP stands in for the city.

Census ZBP business roll-up

Dense employer mosaic across Wilmington

Citywide ZBP: 7,941 establishments, 112,788 employees , annual payroll $6,638,017k (~43 establishments per 1,000 residents) across 6 of 6 ZIPs. Peak business ZIP 28403 (2,389 units) ; leading NAICS Professional, scientific, and technical services (1,054) · also Retail trade · Health care and social assistance .

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ZIP Codes in Wilmington, NC

These ZIP codes sit in New Hanover County, which covers 10 ZIP codes in all; 6 of them fall in Wilmington. See the New Hanover County roll-up →

Wilmington sits in the lower half of New Hanover County on income: Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach report more, and only Castle Hayne reports less. Wrightsville Beach marks the far end of that range at $172,500, 124% above Wilmington.

Side-by-side: Compare 28403 vs 28412 →

ZIP Code Population Median income Establishments Density
28403 36,063 $54,547 2,389 989
28412 35,573 $71,636 984 632
28411 31,962 $97,387 837 295
28409 31,296 $111,048 645 507
28405 29,152 $70,274 1,616 468
28401 22,094 $57,968 1,470 353

Wilmington roll-ups here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or relocation advice. ACS and Census ZBP figures are estimates; confirm the current table against Census before a money or move decision involving Wilmington, .