RANK #795 / 996 · POP 228,134 · NC
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.5%
With its historic downtown and proximity to Atlantic beaches, New Hanover County, North Carolina, offers a distinctive coastal lifestyle. The city of Wilmington, the county seat, sits along the Cape Fear River, approximately 130 miles south of Raleigh. Residents and visitors enjoy a Riverwalk, historic architecture, and access to nearby beach towns like Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, including watersports, hiking trails, and numerous parks such as Airlie Gardens and Carolina Beach State Park.
Life in New Hanover County attracts a mix of families, retirees, and young professionals seeking a balance of coastal living and urban amenities. The public school system, New Hanover County Schools, is highly rated and offers various educational options, including magnet and year-round schools. The economy, while historically influenced by tourism, has seen growth in sectors like healthcare and finance. Recent economic developments include investments in commercial and residential construction, as well as expansion in industrial and logistics sectors, particularly around the Port of Wilmington and Wilmington International Airport.
Below national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center
Amazon
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Project Grace (Library and Museum)
New Hanover County
|
$57M | Under Construction |
|
Swartville Residential Development
Sea Horse Development (Joel and Ross Tomaselli)
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
New Hanover County has a Boom Town Index score of 20/100, ranking #795 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.1% and a median household income of $67,515, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in New Hanover County is $320,000 with median rent at $1,249/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.211, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.1%. Home values changed -1.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.08% of New Hanover County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.