Cost of living in the Wilmington Metro Area
3 counties across NC. Population: 440,578.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Wilmington Metro Area
Average rent across the Wilmington metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Wilmington Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Wilmington Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Wilmington Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Wilmington Metro Area
The Wilmington metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- New Hanover County NC$3,468/moPop231,214 Rent$1,427/mo Income$72,892/yrNew Hanover County NC 231,214 $1,427/mo $72,892/yr $3,468/mo
- Brunswick County NC$3,167/moPop145,889 Rent$1,158/mo Income$74,034/yrBrunswick County NC 145,889 $1,158/mo $74,034/yr $3,167/mo
- Pender County NC$3,004/moPop63,475 Rent$974/mo Income$76,838/yrPender County NC 63,475 $974/mo $76,838/yr $3,004/mo
Compare counties in the Wilmington Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Wilmington Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Wilmington Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Wilmington metro area is approximately $3,301 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Wilmington Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Wilmington metro area is $1,273 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Wilmington Metro Area?
Pender County, NC is the most affordable county in the Wilmington metro area at approximately $3,004 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Wilmington Metro Area?
New Hanover County, NC is the most expensive county in the Wilmington metro area at approximately $3,468 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Wilmington Metro Area?
The Wilmington metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are New Hanover County, Brunswick County, Pender County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.