Retiring in Wilmington, North Carolina

Overview

Riverfront downtown plus real beaches, without Charleston's price tag.

Home Price

Homes in Wilmington typically range from $337k to $606k.

Source: Zillow Home Value Index. Estimates only — verify current pricing before making decisions.

Cost of Living

Wilmington's cost of living index is 95.4 compared to a U.S. national average of 100.

Climate

Average summer highs around 85°F and winter daytime temperatures around 59°F, with high humidity and a “Four seasons” seasonal pattern.

Geography & Landscape

Healthcare

Healthcare access and quality index: 70/100 (HomeAfterWork healthcare index — County Health Rankings + CMS Care Compare, local-adjusted from the U.S. national baseline).

Safety & Stability

Wilmington scores a safety index of 59.8/100 and a political stability score of 6.0/10, based on sourced crime and stability data.

Airport Access

About 18 minutes to the nearest major airport we could confirm.

Lifestyle & Activities

Outdoor activities:

• Boating / kayaking
• Fishing
• Tennis / racquet sports
• Gardening
• Nature / bird watching

Culture & lifestyle:

• Food culture
• Museums
• Shopping

Things to Consider

• Hurricane exposure
• Growing traffic