Wilson, NC

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

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2024 Population

79,290

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

40.6

0.246% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

19.8%

5.75% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$56,423

9.81% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$186,000

8.27% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

34,315

2.46% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Wilson, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.3% of the residents in Wilson, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Wilson, NC are Wilson Community College (403 degrees awarded in 2024) and Barton College (316 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Wilson, NC was $186,000, and the homeownership rate was 60%.

Most people in Wilson, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.5 minutes. The average car ownership in Wilson, NC was 2 cars per household.

Wilson, NC borders Goldsboro, NC, Greenville, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Rocky Mount, NC.

United States North Carolina

Population & Diversity

Wilson, NC is home to a population of 79.3k people, from which 96.3% are citizens. As of 2024, 6.09% of Wilson, NC residents were born outside of the country (4.83k people).

In 2024, there were 1.15 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (35.1k people) in Wilson, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 30.6k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 6.35k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.3%

2024 Citizenship

96.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 96.3% of Wilson, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Wilson, NC was 96.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Wilson, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Wilson, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
35.1k ± 429
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
30.6k ± 393
Other (Hispanic)
6.35k ± 715

12.4%

Hispanic Population

9.83k people

12.4% of the people in Wilson, NC are hispanic (9.83k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Wilson, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the MSA level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
228,441 ± 11,609 people
India
90,815 ± 7,367 people
Honduras
52,061 ± 5,588 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 228,441 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 90,815 and Honduras with 52,061.

Foreign-Born Population

6.09%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

4.83k people

5.96%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

4.68k people

As of 2024, 6.09% of Wilson, NC residents (4.83k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Wilson, NC was 5.96%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Wilson, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,262 ± 272
Gulf War (2001-)
952 ± 305
Gulf War (1990s)
543 ± 200

Wilson, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.33 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Wilson, NC.

Health

87.8% of the population of Wilson, NC has health coverage, with 38.2% on employee plans, 21.1% on Medicaid, 13.5% on Medicare, 13.9% on non-group plans, and 1.16% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see 1,413 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1634 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 299 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.5% were men and 52.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

1,413 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in North Carolina

Primary care physicians in North Carolina see an average of 1,413 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,413 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in North Carolina in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.3% under 18 years, 19.6% between 18 and 34 years, 37.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.9% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.5% were men and 52.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

12.2%

Uninsured

38.2%

Employer Coverage

21.1%

Medicaid

13.5%

Medicare

13.9%

Non-Group

1.16%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Wilson, NC declined by 4.49% from 12.8% to 12.2%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Wilson, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Economy

The economy of Wilson, NC employs 34.3k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Wilson, NC were Manufacturing (5,777 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (5,097 people), and Retail Trade (3,973 people), and the highest paying industries were Finance & Insurance ($60,940), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($58,229), and Public Administration ($56,964).

Employment

Occupations

34.3k

2024 Value

± 1,537

2.46%

1 Year growth

± 6.34%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Wilson, NC grew at a rate of 2.46%, from 33.5k employees to 34.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Wilson, NC, are Management Occupations (3,780 people), Production Occupations (3,595 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,559 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Wilson, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

34.3k

2024 Value

± 1,537

2.46%

1 Year growth

± 6.34%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Wilson, NC grew at a rate of 2.46%, from 33.5k employees to 34.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Wilson, NC, are Manufacturing (5,777 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (5,097 people), and Retail Trade (3,973 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Wilson, NC, though some of these residents may live in Wilson, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$48,153

Median earning men ± $1,960

$35,544

Median earning women ± $1,628

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($130,982), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($62,530), and Public Administration ($62,327).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Construction ($68,231), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($50,248), and Public Administration ($49,601).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

139
Retail Trade
129
Other Services (except Public Administration)
108
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$539k
Manufacturing
$230k
Finance and Insurance
$180k
Health Care and Social Assistance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (47.6%), followed by Other (0.675%).

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Wilson, NC. Showing the available data for North Carolina.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (50.9%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (47.6%)
Democratic Party
Other (0.675%)
Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in North Carolina went to Donald J. Trump with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (47.6%), followed by Other (0.675%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in North Carolina for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Ted Budd

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2024, universities in Wilson, NC awarded 719 degrees. The student population of Wilson, NC in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 1,209 male students and 1,858 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Wilson, NC are White (362 and 51.2%), Black or African American (188 and 26.6%), Hispanic or Latino (90 and 12.7%), and Unknown (37 and 5.23%).

The largest universities in Wilson, NC by number of degrees awarded are Wilson Community College (403 and 56.1%) and Barton College (316 and 43.9%).

The most popular majors in Wilson, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (95 and 13.2%), General Business Administration & Management (91 and 12.7%), and Registered Nursing (61 and 8.48%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $37,000.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Wilson, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 94.2%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 10.4%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 3,067 (39.4% men and 60.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 3,067 students enrolled in Wilson, NC, 39.4% men and 60.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,276 records, of which 56.1% were women and 43.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
39 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
38 degrees awarded
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
27 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Wilson, NC was General Business Administration & Management with 39 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Wilson, NC according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Wilson Community College
403 degrees awarded
Barton College
316 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Wilson Community College with 403 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 304 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Wilson, NC, which is 0.733 times less than the 415 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 362 degrees mean that there were 1.93 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 188 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($37,000) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($140) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 2-year ($2,500) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Wilson, NC was $186,000 in 2024, which is 0.559 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $171,800 to $186,000, a 8.27% increase. The homeownership rate in Wilson, NC is 60%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Wilson, NC have an average commute time of 22.5 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Wilson, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$186,000

Median Property Value 2024

±$8,936

$19,856

Median Property Taxes

±$1,002

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Wilson, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Wilson, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

60%

Homeownership

2024

62.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 60% of the housing units in Wilson, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 59.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Wilson, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$56,423

Median Household Income

± $3,380

33.1k

Number of Households

± 1,463

In 2024, the median household income of the 33.1k households in Wilson, NC grew to $56,423 from the previous year's value of $51,381.

The following chart displays the households in Wilson, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Wilson, NC is from North Carolina.

0.466

2024 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.467

2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2024, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.16% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (79.5%)
Carpooled (9.89%)
Worked At Home (7.69%)

In 2024, 79.5% of workers in Wilson, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.89%) and those who worked at home (7.69%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.5 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Wilson, NC have a shorter commute time (22.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.2% of the workforce in Wilson, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Wilson, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Wilson, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Wilson, NC have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

19.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Wilson, NC (15.4k out of 78k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 35 - 44, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Wilson, NC is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.