Census-designated place · Georgia
Wilmington Island, Georgia
Wilmington Island, census-designated place, in Chatham County, Georgia. Wilmington Island had 13,905 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,138). GEOID 1383168.
Residents, 2020-2024
13,905
±1,138 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 15,129
Median household income
$93,924
±$12,057 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$404,900
±$21,336 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$1,752
±$147 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
Where is Wilmington Island and what county is it in?
Wilmington Island is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Chatham County, Georgia. It covers 8.3 square miles of land, 1,822 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wilmington Island is in the Savannah, GA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wilmington Island, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Wilmington Island's population at 13,905 (±1,138). The 2020 Census counted 15,129 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Wilmington Island is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Wilmington Island | Chatham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,905 ±1,138 | 300,879 | −1,929 |
| Households | 5,946 ±347 | 120,383 | −532 |
| Average household size | 2.33 ±0.13 | 2.40 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,429 ±312 | 137,532 | −665 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wilmington Island?
The median resident of Wilmington Island is 45.2 years old; 18.7% are under 18 and 23.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.7%. 3.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wilmington Island | Chatham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 ±5.1 | 37.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.7% ±3.6 pts | 20.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.4% ±3.0 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 46.9% ±2.2 pts | 48.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% ±1.5 pts | 8.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.5% ±3.1 pts | 45.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.0 pts | 38.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±1.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.7% ±1.2 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.9% ±1.4 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.1% ±2.6 pts | 8.9% | – |
| With a disability | 15.8% ±2.6 pts | 16.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4% ±3.2 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.2% ±1.0 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 52.6% ±5.2 pts | 37.7% | +7.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.1% ±3.3 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.2% ±3.7 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.6% ±2.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wilmington Island earn?
Half of Wilmington Island's 5,946 households earn less than $93,924 a year (±$12,057), against $71,097 in Chatham County and $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $101,532 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wilmington Island | Chatham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $93,924 ±$12,057 | $71,097 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $117,489 ±$10,387 | $98,268 | – |
| Per capita income | $50,663 ±$4,884 | $40,342 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.2% ±1.9 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.3% ±4.0 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.8% ±1.6 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6% ±1.4 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.5% ±2.3 pts | 92.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wilmington Island?
Owners occupy 77.0% of Wilmington Island's occupied homes and renters 23.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $404,900 by its owner (±$21,336). The median renter pays $1,752 a month including utilities, and 40.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wilmington Island | Chatham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $404,900 ±$21,336 | $302,700 | +$80,366 |
| Median gross rent | $1,752 ±$147 | $1,471 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.6% ±14.3 pts | 45.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,968 ±$123 | $1,758 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.0% ±4.4 pts | 56.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.0% ±4.4 pts | 43.2% | – |
| Housing units | 6,429 ±312 | 137,532 | −665 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2% ±5.4 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.1% ±4.2 pts | 61.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.4% ±2.1 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.4% ±3.6 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.1% ±2.2 pts | 7.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Wilmington Island work and get to work?
79.4% of Wilmington Island's workers drive alone and 9.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Wilmington Island | Chatham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.9% ±4.0 pts | 63.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% ±1.5 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.4% ±3.8 pts | 72.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.7% ±2.9 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.1% ±2.8 pts | 11.6% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.3 min ±1.8 | 23.0 min | +5.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Wilmington Island?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Wilmington Island (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $86,100 (Tract 111.12) to $120,192 (Tract 111.08).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 111.04Chatham County | 4,533 | $86,761 |
| Tract 111.13Chatham County | 3,861 | $117,386 |
| Tract 111.12Chatham County | 2,907 | $86,100 |
| Tract 111.08Chatham County | 2,604 | $120,192 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Wilmington Island) · Census block assignment files
How does Wilmington Island compare with other places in Georgia?
Wilmington Island ranks 55th of 348 places in Georgia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 96th | 360 |
| Residents per square mile | 68th | 360 |
| Median household income | 55th | 348 |
| Per capita income | 39th | 357 |
| Median home value | 40th | 346 |
| Median gross rent | 40th | 337 |
| Poverty rate | 297th | 302 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30th | 343 |
| Median age | 33rd | 360 |
| Owner-occupied share | 61st | 354 |
| Work from home | 144th | 198 |
| Travel time to work | 137th | 359 |
Wilmington Island's figures with every place in Georgia (CSV)
Every place in Georgia, sortable · Compare Wilmington Island with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Wilmington Island?
13 of the 57 figures for Wilmington Island on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wilmington Island are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.