PlainZIP

Wilmington, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28403

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

36,063
989/sq mi
$54,547
Median income
$386,700
Median home value
48.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wilmington pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.

20th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 22%
home value, US ZIPs
989
people per sq mi
36%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28403 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28403 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, with 36,063 residents across 36.5 square miles, a density of 989 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28403 reports a modest median household income of $54,547 (21% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $41,022. 24.8% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 4.8%. On housing, the median home value is $386,700 (49% above the state average) with median rent at $1,380 per month, and 35.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 48.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.5, and the average commute is 18 minutes. Beyond these figures, 8 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing New Hanover County, letting you compare 28403 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 28403

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilmington, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28403.

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 28403, 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

36,063

Population

36.5

Area (sq mi)

989

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 28403?

28.5

Median Age

44.8%

Male

55.2%

Female

4.6%

Foreign-Born

White 77.4%
African American 12.2%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%

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?

$54,547

Median Household Income

-21% vs state

$41,022

Per Capita Income

24.8%

Poverty Rate

4.8%

Unemployment Rate

17.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28403 ranks nationally

Wilmington, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$54,547 20th percentile higher than 20% 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 66.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 48.1%

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

What does housing look like?

20,479

Total Housing Units

18,577

Occupied Units

1,902

Vacant Units

1.98

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 35.7%
Renter 64.3%

$386,700

Median Home Value

+49% vs state

$1,380

Median Rent

1989

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

+2.8%

YoY Change (2024)

294

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+194%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28403 have increased 2.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +194% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.6% 183
2021 +12.4% 205
2022 +20.0% 247
2023 +15.9% 286
2024 +2.8% 294

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 2,389 business establishments in ZIP 28403, employing approximately 32,708 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,658,505,000.

2,389

Businesses

32,708

Employees

$1.7B

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 389 16.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 342 14.3%
Health care and social assistance 339 14.2%
Accommodation and food services 234 9.8%
Finance and insurance 194 8.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 192 8.0%
Other services (except public administration) 190 8.0%
Construction 157 6.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 109 4.6%
Wholesale trade 62 2.6%
Information 40 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 39 1.6%
Manufacturing 32 1.3%
Educational services 32 1.3%
Transportation and warehousing 23 1.0%
Management of companies and enterprises 12 0.5%

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 28403 vs 28405 →

ZIP 28403 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 28403 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 28403 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 28403 ranks #9 of 9 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 3.1 mi
28409 Wilmington, NC 31,296 4.7 mi
28480 Wrightsville Beach, NC 2,473 4.9 mi
28412 Wilmington, NC 35,573 6.5 mi
28401 Wilmington, NC 22,094 5.9 mi
28429 Castle Hayne, NC 8,026 8.4 mi
28411 Wilmington, NC 31,962 7.5 mi
28479 Winnabow, NC 4,903 11.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in New Hanover County

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
28401 standard
Wilmington, NC
Pop: 22,094
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 28403 in? ▼
ZIP code 28403 (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 28403? ▼
ZIP code 28403 in Wilmington, NC has a population of 36,063 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28403? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28403 is $54,547, which is 28% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28403? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28403 is $386,700, which is 39% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28403? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28403 is White at 77.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28403? ▼
ZIP code 28403 has 2,389 business establishments employing approximately 32,708 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28403? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28403 are: Retail trade (389), Professional, scientific, and technical services (342), Health care and social assistance (339). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28403? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28403 increased by 2.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 194%. 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 28403? ▼
In ZIP code 28403, 66.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 48.1% 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 28403? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28403 is 17.6 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 28403? ▼
In ZIP code 28403, approximately 35.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 64.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28403? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28403 is 24.8% 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.