Last updated
Average Rent in Wilmington, NC & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 12 apartment communities in Wilmington, NC. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,512/mo
▲ +4.6% from last month
Lowest Available
$939/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
12
tracked daily
Units Listed
135
available now
Price Cuts This Week in Wilmington, NC
37 listed units across 7 buildings in Wilmington, NC dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $59/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Midtown Apartment Homes | Unit 2911-105, A2 | $1,615 | $1,455 | $160 |
| One Midtown Apartment Homes | Unit 2931-307, A2 | $1,589 | $1,429 | $160 |
| One Midtown Apartment Homes | Unit 2945-101, A2 | $1,644 | $1,484 | $160 |
| South Front | Unit 104 | $2,817 | $2,669 | $148 |
| South Front | Unit 106 | $2,817 | $2,669 | $148 |
| Forest Hills Apartment Homes | Unit 8, RIVER OAK | $1,770 | $1,650 | $120 |
| Forest Hills Apartment Homes | Unit 7, RIVER OAK | $1,650 | $1,560 | $90 |
| One Midtown Apartment Homes | Unit 2980-205, A1 | $1,564 | $1,482 | $82 |
Rent by Neighborhood in Wilmington, NC
Compare average rent across Wilmington, NC neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington 28401 | $1,911 | ▲ $37 | $1,444 | 3 | 37 |
| Audubon | $1,406 | ▼ $75 | $939 | 7 | 72 |
| Wilmington 28405 | $1,237 | ▼ $26 | $1,046 | 2 | 26 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Wilmington, NC?
As of September 2026, the average rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,512 per month across 12 apartment communities and 135 available units. Rents have increased $67 (4.6%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Elevation - Tribute Student Living starting at $939/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,088/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $1,411/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $1,718/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $1,895/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $942/mo.
Prices range from $939 to $3,234 per month. The most common price point is the $1,400 range, where 35 units are currently listed.
Wilmington, NC Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $1,390 | - | 10 |
| June 2026 | $1,412 | +$22 | 10 |
| July 2026 | $1,505 | +$93 | 11 |
| August 2026 | $1,544 | +$39 | 11 |
| September 2026 | $1,507 | -$37 | 11 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Wilmington, NC
Rent Prices by Apartment in Wilmington, NC
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation - Tribute Student Living | $939/mo | $952/mo | 7 | 4.6 |
| Flats at Market Street | $1,046/mo | $1,079/mo | 16 | 3.9 |
| Hawthorne Commons | $1,120/mo | $1,320/mo | 9 | 4.4 |
| The Creek at Forest Hills | $1,124/mo | $1,250/mo | 7 | 4 |
| Hawthorne at New Centre | $1,186/mo | $1,402/mo | 24 | 4.4 |
| Deerbrook | $1,253/mo | $1,490/mo | 10 | 4.7 |
| Forest Hills Apartment Homes | $1,335/mo | $1,590/mo | 12 | 4.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Wilmington, NC
What is the average rent in Wilmington, NC?
Is rent going up or down in Wilmington, NC?
What is the cheapest apartment in Wilmington, NC?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Wilmington, NC?
How many apartments are available in Wilmington, NC?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Wilmington, NC?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$60,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,512/mo.
Comfortable income
$73,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($939/mo), you need to earn at least $38,000/year.
Median household income in Wilmington, NC is $63,900 , about 12% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Wilmington, NC
Overall prices in Wilmington, NC runs below the national average by about 5% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 95.4, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Wilmington, NC's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,512 |
| Utilities | $378 |
| Groceries | $523 |
| Transportation | $900 |
| Healthcare | $439 |
| Other goods and services | $703 |
| Estimated total | $4,454/mo |
Population
118,578
Median household income
$63,900
Census median rent
$1,311/mo
Census rent burden
32.1%
Median age
37.5
Mean commute
19 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Wilmington, NC Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Wilmington, NC Apartments
Browse all 12 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.