City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Wilson, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Wilson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

47,740
Residents
$47,294
Median income
$192,000
Median home
$1,025
Median rent (state)

Wilson - the verdict

Wilson ranks in the 16th percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

16th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
22nd
percentile, median rent
16th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Wilson, NC

Wilson is a small city in North Carolina, home to 47,740 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Wilson households earn a median of $47,294 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.2%. Wilson's housing stock carries a median value of $192,000, and the median resident age is 39.1 years. About 22.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 53.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 381 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 277% from five years earlier. Wilson's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2981.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 61.6°F with 50.3 inches of precipitation per year and 1.9 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,025 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 20.0 minutes, with 80.7% driving alone and 6.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 76.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

47,740 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$47,294 /yr

Poverty 19.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Wilson compare to other US cities?

Where Wilson sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Wilson ranks #111 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Wilson's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

16thIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income · 16th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Wilson's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Wilson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Wilson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Wilson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$192,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Wilson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Wilson, NC Wilson, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wilson, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Wilson, NC median $47,294/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Wilson, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Wilson, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
47,740
Median Income
$47,294
Median Home Value
$192,000
Median Age
39.1
Poverty Rate
19.2%
Labor force participation
53.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2981.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
579.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2402.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
61.6°F
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
1.9"

Schools

Total Schools
20
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
48,500 residents49,000 residents49,500 residents50,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 49,001 residents 49,572 residents ▲ +1.2%
Wilson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
381
housing units authorized
Single-Family
199
detached homes
Multifamily
182
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 101
2020 283
2021 201
2022 364
2023 179
2024 381

Permit volume increased 277% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.0 minutes
Drive Alone
80.7%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
2.1%

Based on 20,116 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Wilson sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,025/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
76.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Wake Forest
51,199 people
Mooresville
51,447 people
Hickory
43,747 people
Holly Springs
43,429 people
Rocky Mount
54,175 people
Indian Trail
41,146 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wilson's 47,740 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wauwatosa, WI
47,718 people
Mansfield, OH
47,686 people
Glenview, IL
47,682 people
Roswell, NM
47,823 people
Middletown, CT
47,646 people
Oro Valley, AZ
47,595 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wilson's $47,294 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rentz, GA
$47,292 median income
New London, MO
$47,292 median income
Tryon, NE
$47,292 median income
Earth, TX
$47,303 median income
Carthage, MS
$47,304 median income
Hubbard, TX
$47,284 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wilson, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Wilson, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 36.3% 49.2% 8.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.3% White 36.3% Black or African American 49.2% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.5% Two or more races 4.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Wilson compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Wilson (this city) 47,740 $47,294
Wake Forest 51,199 $120,777
Mooresville 51,447 $88,592
Hickory 43,747 $63,361
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wilson, NC?

What is the population of Wilson, NC? +

Wilson, NC counts 47,740 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Wilson, NC? +

Median annual household income in Wilson runs $47,294, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wilson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wilson; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Wilson, NC safe? +

Wilson has a total crime rate of 2981.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Wilson, NC? +

A typical home in Wilson is worth $192,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Wilson? +

Climate normals put Wilson's yearly average temperature at 61.6°F, 50.3 inches of precipitation, and 1.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.