City · North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson, city, in Wilson County, North Carolina. Wilson had 49,572 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 47,851 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 48,370 (±38). GEOID 3774540.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
49,572
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 47,851 · ACS 2020-2024: 48,370 ±38
Median household income
$52,485
±$4,430 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$210,700
±$11,636 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$971
±$42 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Wilson and what county is it in?
Wilson is a city in Wilson County, North Carolina. It covers 31.6 square miles of land, 1,516 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wilson is in the Wilson, NC micropolitan statistical area (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 Wilson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 49,572 people lived in Wilson on July 1, 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 47,851 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 48,370 (±38).
| Measure | Wilson | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 48,370 ±38 | 79,290 | −902 |
| Households | 20,403 ±441 | 33,068 | +736 |
| Average household size | 2.31 ±0.05 | 2.36 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 22,934 ±436 | 37,053 | +877 |
Wilson's population since 2000
From 44,405 in 2000 to 49,572 in 2025: up 11.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wilson as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Wilson?
The median resident of Wilson is 39.5 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 46.9%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 34.9%. 6.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wilson | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 ±1.6 | 40.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.9% ±1.0 pts | 22.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±0.9 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Male | 46.6% ±0.9 pts | 47.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.5% ±1.5 pts | 12.4% | +2.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 34.9% ±1.7 pts | 44.3% | −2.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 46.9% ±1.8 pts | 38.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.3 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±1.0 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.9% ±1.0 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.4% ±1.5 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6% ±1.1 pts | 6.0% | – |
| With a disability | 14.6% ±1.2 pts | 15.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.6% ±1.4 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.2% ±1.6 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.5% ±2.0 pts | 21.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.1% ±1.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.1% ±2.6 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
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 Wilson earn?
Half of Wilson's 20,403 households earn less than $52,485 a year (±$4,430), against $56,423 in Wilson County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $51,733 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 23.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wilson | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,485 ±$4,430 | $56,423 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,977 ±$5,552 | $76,415 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,704 ±$2,515 | $31,996 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 23.0% ±2.9 pts | 19.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.0% ±6.4 pts | 31.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.5% ±2.5 pts | 18.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.1% ±2.0 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.4% ±2.2 pts | 85.7% | – |
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 Wilson?
Owners occupy 49.1% of Wilson's occupied homes and renters 50.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $210,700 by its owner (±$11,636). The median renter pays $971 a month including utilities, and 39.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wilson | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $210,700 ±$11,636 | $186,000 | +$35,080 |
| Median gross rent | $971 ±$42 | $953 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.7% ±4.6 pts | 40.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,436 ±$75 | $1,386 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 49.1% ±2.6 pts | 60.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 50.9% ±2.6 pts | 40.0% | – |
| Housing units | 22,934 ±436 | 37,053 | +877 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±1.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.5% ±2.3 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.4% ±2.6 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% ±1.1 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.4% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.0% ±1.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.7% ±1.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.6% ±1.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
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 many new homes is Wilson building?
Builders took permits for 249 new housing units in Wilson in 2025 (195 in single-family houses), 5.0 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Wilson work and get to work?
78.9% of Wilson's workers drive alone and 7.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.7%.
| Measure | Wilson | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.6% ±2.1 pts | 57.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% ±1.6 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.9% ±3.1 pts | 79.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2% ±2.5 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±1.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.4% ±1.5 pts | 7.7% | +5.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.3 min ±1.1 | 22.5 min | no clear change |
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 Wilson?
15 census tracts lie mostly in Wilson, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $17,440 (Tract 8.01) to $106,071 (Tract 5.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4.01Wilson County | 5,129 | $45,758 |
| Tract 14.02Wilson County | 6,085 | $58,735 |
| Tract 5.02Wilson County | 4,586 | $88,317 |
| Tract 6.01Wilson County | 3,787 | $46,862 |
| Tract 5.01Wilson County | 3,386 | $106,071 |
| Tract 1Wilson County | 3,279 | $29,884 |
| Tract 4.02Wilson County | 3,824 | $51,830 |
| Tract 8.02Wilson County | 3,800 | $39,332 |
| Tract 7.02Wilson County | 2,875 | $37,375 |
| Tract 3Wilson County | 2,288 | $34,348 |
| Tract 6.02Wilson County | 3,729 | $92,415 |
| Tract 14.01Wilson County | 2,914 | $89,167 |
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 Wilson) · Census block assignment files
How does Wilson compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wilson is the 832nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 24th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Wilson ranks 302nd of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 24th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 235th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 76th | 443 |
| Median household income | 302nd | 434 |
| Per capita income | 247th | 443 |
| Median home value | 271st | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 215th | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 78th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 240th | 421 |
| Median age | 252nd | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 382nd | 443 |
| Work from home | 239th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 323rd | 439 |
Wilson's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Wilson 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 Wilson?
5 of the 57 figures for Wilson 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 Wilson 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' public schools in Wilson.