PlainZIP

Wilmington, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28401

New Hanover County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

22,094
353/sq mi
$57,968
Median income
$298,500
Median home value
33.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wilmington pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

26th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 34%
home value, US ZIPs
353
people per sq mi
41%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28401 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28401 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, with 22,094 residents across 62.6 square miles, a density of 353 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28401 reports a modest median household income of $57,968 (16% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $39,108. The poverty rate stands at 18.6% and the unemployment rate at 5.1%. The typical home here is valued at $298,500 (15% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,274 monthly, and 41.1% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.7, and the average commute is 17 minutes. Beyond these figures, 7 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing New Hanover County, letting you compare 28401 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 28401

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilmington, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28401.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28401, Wilmington, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

22,094

Population

62.6

Area (sq mi)

353

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28401?

41.7

Median Age

46.4%

Male

53.6%

Female

5.8%

Foreign-Born

White 53.6%
African American 30.5%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.4%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$57,968

Median Household Income

-16% vs state

$39,108

Per Capita Income

18.6%

Poverty Rate

5.1%

Unemployment Rate

17.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28401 ranks nationally

Wilmington, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$57,968 26th percentile higher than 26% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 56.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

13,424

Total Housing Units

11,085

Occupied Units

2,339

Vacant Units

1.89

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 41.1%
Renter 58.9%

$298,500

Median Home Value

+15% vs state

$1,274

Median Rent

1958

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+5.3%

YoY Change (2024)

341

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+241%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28401 have increased 5.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +241% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.6% 200
2021 +16.3% 233
2022 +21.5% 283
2023 +14.4% 323
2024 +5.3% 341

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 1,470 business establishments in ZIP 28401, employing approximately 33,286 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,436,270,000.

1,470

Businesses

33,286

Employees

$2.4B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 231 15.7%
Accommodation and food services 199 13.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 198 13.5%
Retail trade 173 11.8%
Other services (except public administration) 141 9.6%
Construction 95 6.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 77 5.2%
Wholesale trade 67 4.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 60 4.1%
Finance and insurance 52 3.5%
Manufacturing 51 3.5%
Transportation and warehousing 46 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 27 1.8%
Information 25 1.7%
Educational services 13 0.9%
Management of companies and enterprises 10 0.7%
Utilities 3 0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 28401 vs 28405 →

ZIP 28401 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28401 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28401 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28401 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28405 Wilmington, NC 29,152 5.5 mi
28429 Castle Hayne, NC 8,026 6.0 mi
28403 Wilmington, NC 36,063 5.9 mi
28451 Leland, NC 27,112 7.8 mi
28412 Wilmington, NC 35,573 9.9 mi
28409 Wilmington, NC 31,296 10.0 mi
28435 Currie, NC 2,490 12.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in New Hanover County

28403 standard
Wilmington, NC
Pop: 36,063
28412 standard
Wilmington, NC
Pop: 35,573
28411 standard
Wilmington, NC
Pop: 31,962
28409 standard
Wilmington, NC
Pop: 31,296
28405 standard
Wilmington, NC
Pop: 29,152
28429 standard
Castle Hayne, NC
Pop: 8,026

Related Areas

New Hanover County Wilmington, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28401 in? ▼
ZIP code 28401 (Wilmington) is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina. New Hanover County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/new-hanover-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28401? ▼
ZIP code 28401 in Wilmington, NC has a population of 22,094 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28401? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28401 is $57,968, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28401? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28401 is $298,500, which is 7% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28401? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28401 is White at 53.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28401? ▼
ZIP code 28401 has 1,470 business establishments employing approximately 33,286 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28401? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28401 are: Health care and social assistance (231), Accommodation and food services (199), Professional, scientific, and technical services (198). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28401? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28401 increased by 5.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 241%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 28401? ▼
In ZIP code 28401, 56.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 28401? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28401 is 17.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28401? ▼
In ZIP code 28401, approximately 41.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 58.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28401? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28401 is 18.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.