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Wilson, NC

Photo: Wikipedia

Wilson, NC

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Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 62
Population47,740
Foreign Born3.3%
Population Density1,480people per mi²
Median Age39.1 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

75/100

25% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Wilson, North Carolina

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$28k
Comfortable $37k$55k
Luxury $85k+$132k+
Elite (Top 5%) $125k+$194k+
Affordability Ratio

86%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean89%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
37
Positive
40
Poor
6
Negative
2

Groceries

7 within 10 miles

1.1mi

Gas

19 within 10 miles

0.9mi

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.2mi

Airport

RDU — Raleigh–Durham International

49.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Wilson, NC

1mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

2 private clubs within 10 miles.

Golf1Nearest 4.5 mi
Camping3Nearest 34.1 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0 

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
F
Distressed

A low-income area with significant economic hardship. Household wealth and educational attainment are well below national averages.

Median HHI
$47k+0.9%
37% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$346k
47% below US avg
College Educated
22.8%
35% below US avg
WFH
6.0%
58% below US avg
Homeownership
48.6%
26% below US avg
Median Home
$192k
32% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 60% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
21.4
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−19.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−19.9%
Homicide*
0.06 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery
0.49 / 1k Residents30% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
4.01 / 1k Residents73% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−19.5%
Burglary
2.65 / 1k Residents3% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
16.91 / 1k Residents43% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft*
1.90 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025* = State-level data substituted where local agency has not published figures

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+1Tilts Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Wilson, North Carolina
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.9% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
D-
PoorHigh regulation

Energy independence: Importer (15% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
C+
LimitedHerd shares only
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A-
Broadly LegalMedical + Decrim.

Homesteading

Growing Season241 days330 frost-free
Annual Rainfall51.2"
Elevation121 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D+
Poor405 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,480/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A-
Good2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D-
PoorInland Flooding, Hurricane, Tornado, Heat Wave, Drought
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 504 mi · coast 93 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$30.1M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityRaleigh468k people are 40 mi away
Nearest Major AirportRDU49 mi away
Distance to State Capital40 miRaleigh, NC
Nearest Prison20 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T16:55:12.000Z

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