Cost of Living in Wilson County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Wilson County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Wilson County ranks #2,094 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 33%)
Sourced county brief
Wilson County Median Home Value Estimated at $186,000
The median home value in Wilson County was estimated at $186,000 according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. This figure is $49,312 below the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $235,312. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in the county were $1,002, which is $75 above the state unweighted county mean of $927. For those in rental housing, the median gross rent was $953 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $977. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), provided in ACS table B25071, was 28.6% for Wilson County. This official GRAPI figure differs from the North Carolina unweighted county mean for that metric by 0.3 percentage points. Median renter-household income in the county was reported at $38,438. These data points provide a housing cost snapshot using the acs5-2020-2024 data version and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1 last reviewed on 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Wilson County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.6% of renter household income in Wilson County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $953 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,002. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Wilson County's $953 median is 2.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Wilson County
Rent Burden
20.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,317
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.3%
of gross income
The median home in Wilson County may be a stretch
Median home value is $186,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,485 vs. your max of $1,317.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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