1st Advantage Mortgage38% of New Hanover County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $75,166 (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every New Hanover County offer.
On this page
- First look: New Hanover County, NC
- Earnings across New Hanover County households
- Housing costs in New Hanover County
- New Hanover County against other North Carolina counties
- The New Hanover County job picture
- New Hanover County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up New Hanover County
- A New Hanover County household budget, worked through
- More New Hanover County figures
- Reading the New Hanover County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for New Hanover County
- Before you sign
- Other North Carolina guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: New Hanover County, NC
Roughly 235,229 residents live in New Hanover County, North Carolina, 10th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. New Hanover County spans 192 square miles; with 235,229 people, that is 1,223.7 per square mile. Metro area: Wilmington, NC (OMB, 2023). Of the 18 Census places inside New Hanover County, Wilmington leads by population with about 120,805; 4 of the 18 are incorporated.
Earnings across New Hanover County households
Half of New Hanover County households take in less than $75,166 a year and half take in more, 4% above the North Carolina median of $72,388. Only 16 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Band | New Hanover County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | -1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.4% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.4% | +1.0 pts |
On the low end, 22% of New Hanover County households report under $35,000; at the top, 38% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 12.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.0%. Gini index for New Hanover County: 0.482. For a borrower in New Hanover County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in New Hanover County
New Hanover County rent at the median: $1,417 a month, utilities in ($1,228 in North Carolina). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 55% in New Hanover County, 49% statewide. Median value $387,800; median income $75,166; ratio 5.2. Owners occupy 61% of homes. The median year built is 1993.
| Home costs | New Hanover County | North Carolina | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,417/mo | $1,228/mo | 15% higher |
| Median home value | $387,800 | $288,900 | 34% higher |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | -5.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 49% | +6.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | +2.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 2.7% | 11.0% | -8.2 pts |
| Vacant units | 13% | 13% | +0.1 pts |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
New Hanover County against other North Carolina counties
- New Hanover County ranks 3rd lowest of 100 North Carolina counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 8%, against 14% statewide. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- Few North Carolina counties match New Hanover County on the share of mobile homes: 2.7% here, 11.0% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 100. Few mobile homes means most owners have traditional equity options.
- Few North Carolina counties match New Hanover County on median gross rent: $1,417/mo here, $1,228/mo for the state, ranking 6th highest of 100. High rent is the first thing a lender's ratio will see.
The New Hanover County job picture
Education and health care (23%), professional and administrative services (16%) and arts, lodging and food service (12%) lead New Hanover County's job mix. Relative to North Carolina (8%), arts, lodging and food service is 3 points bigger in New Hanover County (12%). Unemployment in New Hanover County, ACS five-year: 4.5%; North Carolina: 4.7%. About 71% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | New Hanover County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.6% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.5% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | 0.0 pts |
Self-employed in New Hanover County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
New Hanover County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to New Hanover County's, from 23 to 52 miles away. Richest neighbor: Pender County, $80,396. Poorest: Bladen County, $42,422. New Hanover County: $75,166.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County | - | $75,166 | $1,417/mo | 61% |
| Pender County, NC | 23 mi | $80,396 | $1,106/mo | 83% |
| Brunswick County, NC | 23 mi | $77,024 | $1,351/mo | 85% |
| Columbus County, NC | 45 mi | $49,442 | $824/mo | 71% |
| Onslow County, NC | 45 mi | $68,148 | $1,265/mo | 64% |
| Bladen County, NC | 48 mi | $42,422 | $773/mo | 69% |
| Duplin County, NC | 52 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
The communities that make up New Hanover County
The table lists the 14 largest of 18 Census places in New Hanover County, by population. Together all 18 hold about 215,287 people, so roughly 8% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,056 in Castle Hayne to $151,563 in Wrightsville Beach. Rent is cheapest in Skippers Corner ($838) and steepest in Ogden ($2,867). From Wilmington to the smallest crossroads, New Hanover County residents share this guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | city | 120,805 | $66,738 | $1,395 | 2 mi |
| Murraysville | CDP | 16,339 | $81,167 | $1,777 | 8 mi |
| Myrtle Grove | CDP | 12,637 | $113,463 | $1,463 | 4 mi |
| Kings Grant | CDP | 9,003 | $62,232 | $1,292 | 6 mi |
| Ogden | CDP | 8,249 | $121,338 | $2,867 | 7 mi |
| Porters Neck | CDP | 7,654 | $119,979 | $1,503 | 9 mi |
| Carolina Beach | town | 6,745 | $94,398 | $1,513 | 10 mi |
| Silver Lake | CDP | 6,563 | $76,756 | $1,416 | 4 mi |
| Wrightsboro | CDP | 6,287 | $78,450 | $1,250 | 8 mi |
| Northchase | CDP | 5,896 | $59,375 | $1,365 | 9 mi |
| Skippers Corner | CDP | 3,792 | $72,297 | $838 | 10 mi |
| Bayshore | CDP | 2,949 | $94,632 | $1,532 | 8 mi |
| Wrightsville Beach | town | 2,665 | $151,563 | $2,336 | 4 mi |
| Kure Beach | town | 2,466 | $104,149 | $1,436 | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A New Hanover County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a New Hanover County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, New Hanover County: $6,264
- Rent at the median, $1,417, takes 23% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $2,192 total minus rent leaves $775
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,402 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More New Hanover County figures
College graduates make up 45% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 9.6% of New Hanover County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | New Hanover County | Gap to North Carolina | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.4% | +9.7 pts | +23.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | -3.9 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 19.4% | +3.1 pts | +10.7 pts |
| Median age | 39.9 | +0.8 yrs | -1.6 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | -0.7 pts | -0.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | +0.3 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -0.2 pts | +0.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | -0.2 pts | +1.8 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Reading the New Hanover County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for New Hanover County borrowers.
- New Hanover County rent burden. 55% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Licensing and complaints for New Hanover County
Before sharing details with a lender, a New Hanover County resident can confirm its license with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Nationally, New Hanover County residents can file with the CFPB. State-level detail for New Hanover County borrowers is in the North Carolina guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the New Hanover County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one New Hanover County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Other North Carolina guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in New Hanover County earn?
The median is $75,166; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What is the median rent in New Hanover County, NC?
$1,417 a month, utilities included, or $17,004 a year.
What are the biggest places in New Hanover County?
By population: Wilmington, Murraysville, Myrtle Grove, Kings Grant, Ogden. The county has 18 Census places in all.
Does living in New Hanover County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a New Hanover County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
What agency protects New Hanover County borrowers?
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks at the state level and the CFPB federally.