Wilmington, NC Rental Market Trends
Last updated: April 22, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Wilmington is $1,635, a 1.03% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,618.
One-bedroom apartments provide 717 square feet for $1,387, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $1,675 offer 1,069 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,344 sq ft) for $2,088, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Wilmington, NC
Last updated: April 22, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $1,635 | 967 sq. ft. |
| Studio | n/a | n/a |
| 1 Bed | $1,387 | 717 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $1,675 | 1,069 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $2,088 | 1,344 sq. ft. |
Wilmington, NC rent trends
Rental prices in Wilmington, NC have increased by 1.03% over the past year. The average rent moved from $1,618 to $1,635.
What's the typical rent budget in Wilmington, NC?
The largest share of rentals in Wilmington, NC (41%) fall between $1,001-$1,500 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in Wilmington, NC?
29,322 or 53% of the households in Wilmington, NC are renter-occupied while 25,823 or 47% are owner-occupied.
Most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington?
Fairlawn $1,179/month
Carolina Place $1,376/month
University of North Carolina Wilmington $1,412/month
All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $1,635/month.Most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington?
Devon Park $1,707/month
Lucia Point $1,859/month
Northside Wilmington $1,958/month
These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.Average Rent in Wilmington, NC By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Northside Wilmington | $1,958 |
| Lucia Point | $1,859 |
| Devon Park | $1,707 |
| Downtown Wilmington | $1,664 |
| Hanover Heights | $1,645 |
| Highland Hills | $1,607 |
| Pine Valley | $1,594 |
| Echo Farms | $1,576 |
| Silver Creek | $1,482 |
| Breezewood | $1,457 |
| New Center | $1,452 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $1,412 |
| Carolina Place | $1,376 |
| Fairlawn | $1,179 |
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Wilmington | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Breezewood is 6% higher than in Carolina Place
$1,457
Breezewood rent is 11% lower than Wilmington average
Average Rent
$1,457
$1,376
Carolina Place rent is 16% lower than Wilmington average
Average Rent
$1,376
How Wilmington Compares to Other Cities
| City | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Wilmington | $1,635 |
| Charlotte | $1,659 |
| Raleigh | $1,560 |
| Fayetteville | $1,284 |
| Winston - Salem | $1,280 |
| Durham | $1,527 |
| Greensboro | $1,329 |
| Hickory | $1,452 |
| Concord | $1,533 |
| Greenville | $1,374 |
| Asheville | $1,660 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $1,232 |
| Hampstead, NC | $1,650 |
Where this data comes from
The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.
Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Wilmington apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.
Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.