Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28401: Wilmington, NC
ZIP code 28401 uses the postal name Wilmington, North Carolina and lies mostly in New Hanover County (78% of its land) with the rest in Pender County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 22,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the least populous of Wilmington's 6 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $57,968 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Wilmington (23%), Wrightsboro (7%) and Hightsville (5%); 66% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Wilmington · 6 residential ZIPs
- County
- New Hanover County (78%); Pender County (22%)
- Census places
- Wilmington (23%); Wrightsboro (7%) census-designated place; Hightsville (5%) census-designated place
- Neighborhoods
- Council Heights, Lake Forest, Love Grove, Sedgefield, Seitter Acres, Sunset Park GeoNames
- Metro area
- Wilmington, NC
- House district
- NC-7 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 31.0 sq mi · 710 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28401?
28401 centers on 34.292°, -77.972° and covers 31.0 square miles of land plus 5.3 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 28429, 28405, 28403, 28451, 28435, 28412, 28457.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28401, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 28401 compare with the rest of Wilmington?
| Measure | 28401 | In Wilmington | In New Hanover County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 22,007 | 6th of 6 | 6th of 10 | 183rd of 853 |
| Median household income | $58k | 5th of 6 | 7th of 8 | 375th of 528 |
| Median home value | $299k | 6th of 6 | 9th of 10 | 194th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 26% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 75% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 28401?
The 2020 Census counted 22,204 people in 28401; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 22,007. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 22,007
- 2020 Census count
- 22,204
- Households
- 11,085
- Median age
- 41.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 28401?
Of the 22,007 people the ACS estimates in 28401, 14.8% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (51.9%), then Black (not Hispanic) (30.4%).
- Under 1814.8%
- 18 to 6465.1%
- 65 and older20.1%
- White, not Hispanic51.9%
- Black, not Hispanic30.4%
- Hispanic or Latino9.4%
- Other or two or more7.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 28401 earn?
Median household income is $57,968 (ACS 2020-2024), the 7th highest of the 8 ranked ZIP codes in New Hanover County.
- Median household income
- $57,968
- Income per person
- $39,108
- Below the poverty line
- 18.6%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.2%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 33.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $60,28410,790 returns; wages 70% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 28401?
FHFA's house price index for 28401, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 154% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 77% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $298,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,274
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 41.1%
- Housing units
- 13,424
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 28401?
1,470 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 192 more than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance231
- Accommodation and food services199
- Professional, scientific, and technical services198
- Retail trade173
- Other services (except public administration)141
- Construction95
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 28401?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28429 | Castle Hayne | 9,662 | $72k | 5.3 mi |
| 28405 | Wilmington | 35,467 | $70k | 6.2 mi |
| 28403 | Wilmington | 40,319 | $55k | 7.1 mi |
| 28451 | Leland | 46,933 | $82k | 9.2 mi |
| 28435 | Currie | 1,889 | $46k | 11.1 mi |
| 28412 | Wilmington | 44,166 | $72k | 11.1 mi |
| 28457 | Rocky Point | 11,464 | $78k | 12.7 mi |
| 28411 | Wilmington | 37,233 | $97k | 10.3 mi (near) |
| 28480 | Wrightsville Beach | 2,776 | $173k | 11.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.