Wilmington, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28409
New Hanover County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,296
- 507/sq mi High-density area
- $111,048
- Median income Above-median income area
- $422,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 50.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wilmington pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 13%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 19%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 507
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28409 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28409 (Wilmington, NC) rose +4.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 277.9 in 2023 to 289.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28409 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, with 31,296 residents across 61.8 square miles, a density of 507 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28409 skews affluent, with a median household income of $111,048 (61% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,885. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.3% and unemployment is 2.7%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $422,600 (63% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 84.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,405.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.2, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in New Hanover County, so 28409 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 28409
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilmington, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28409.
- Construction
Construction
133 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
121 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
76 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
60 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
57 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28409, 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
31,296
Population
61.8
Area (sq mi)
507
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28409?
43.2
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
5.4%
Foreign-Born
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?
$111,048
Median Household Income
+61% vs state ZIP avg
$57,885
Per Capita Income
4.3%
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28409 ranks nationally
Wilmington, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$111,048 Top 13% higher than 87% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,216housing units
15,216
Total Housing Units
14,544
Occupied Units
672
Vacant Units
2.48
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$422,600
Median Home Value
+63% vs state ZIP avg
$1,405
Median Rent
1991
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
+4.0%
YoY Change (2024)
289
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+189%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28409 have increased 4.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +189% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.7% | 179 |
| 2021 | +11.4% | 199 |
| 2022 | +20.9% | 241 |
| 2023 | +15.3% | 278 |
| 2024 | +4.0% | 289 |
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 645 business establishments in ZIP 28409, employing approximately 2,934 people with a combined annual payroll of $117,337,000.
645
Businesses
2,934
Employees
$117.3M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 133 | 20.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 121 | 18.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 76 | 11.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 60 | 9.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 57 | 8.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 41 | 6.4% |
| Retail trade | 27 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 26 | 4.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 3.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 21 | 3.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 2.8% |
| Information | 17 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 0.9% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 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 28409 vs 28412 →
ZIP 28409 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28403
Wilmington (28403)
36,063 residents
- 28412
Wilmington (28412)
35,573 residents
- 28411
Wilmington (28411)
31,962 residents
- 28409
Wilmington (28409)
31,296 residents
- 28405
Wilmington (28405)
29,152 residents
- 28401
Wilmington (28401)
22,094 residents
- 28428 6,033
Carolina Beach (28428)
6,033 residents
- 28480 2,473
Wrightsville Beach (28480)
2,473 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28409 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28409 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28480
Wrightsville Beach (28480)
$172,500 median income
- 28409
Wilmington (28409)
$111,048 median income
- 28411
Wilmington (28411)
$97,387 median income
- 28428
Carolina Beach (28428)
$93,241 median income
- 28412
Wilmington (28412)
$71,636 median income
- 28405
Wilmington (28405)
$70,274 median income
- 28401 $57,968
Wilmington (28401)
$57,968 median income
- 28403 $54,547
Wilmington (28403)
$54,547 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28409 ranks #2 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28409, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (31,296 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in New Hanover County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28409 in?
ZIP code 28409 (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 28409?
ZIP code 28409 in Wilmington, NC has a population of 31,296 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28409?
The median household income in ZIP 28409 is $111,048, which is 46% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28409?
The median home value in ZIP 28409 is $422,600, which is 52% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28409?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28409 is White at 85.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28409?
ZIP code 28409 has 645 business establishments employing approximately 2,934 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28409?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28409 are: Construction (133), Professional, scientific, and technical services (121), Real estate and rental and leasing (76). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28409?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28409 increased by 4.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 189%. 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 28409?
In ZIP code 28409, 65.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.9% 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 28409?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28409 is 20.8 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 28409?
In ZIP code 28409, approximately 84.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28409?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28409 is 4.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28409's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28409 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wilmington, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.