New Hanover County, NC at a glance
Median household income
$75,166$6,264 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in New Hanover County, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in New Hanover County, NC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,144 | $13,728 | $45,760 | 18.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,513 | $18,156 | $60,520 | 24.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,659 | $19,908 | $66,360 | 26.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,178 | $26,136 | $87,120 | 34.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,319 | $27,828 | $92,760 | 37% |
Rent in New Hanover County, NC, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in New Hanover County, NC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $75,166 a year ($6,264 a month before tax).
What $75,166 leaves after North Carolina taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in North Carolina
Living in New Hanover County, NC: common questions
What is the median household income in New Hanover County, NC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in New Hanover County, NC is $75,166 per year (approximately $6,264 per month).
What is the average rent in New Hanover County, NC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,144 for a studio, $1,513 for one bedroom, $1,659 for two, $2,178 for three and $2,319 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is New Hanover County, NC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.6% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 96.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in New Hanover County, NC?
To keep a $1,659 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $66,360 a year, or $5,530 a month. That is 88% of what the typical household in New Hanover County, NC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in New Hanover County, NC?
On the local median income of $75,166 ($6,264 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,132 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,879 for everything else and $1,253 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,659 takes 53% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in New Hanover County, NC?
Homes in North Carolina paid 14.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $133. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.