The Town FilesWilson, North Carolina
City in Wilson County · population 47,851 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,700
- Household income
- $52,485
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.5
Wilson is a city of 47,851 people in Wilson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $210,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 88% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 83% of North Carolina towns.
How Wilson ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wilson is worth $210,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $52,485, which is more affordable than 44% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $971 a month. 49.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $971 | $969 |
| Median household income | $52,485 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Wilson
| People | Wilson | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Wilson
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 50.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 8, 2024 about 5.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 28, 2007.
Severe weather in Wilson County since 1996
Wilson County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Wilson County
Wilson County had 35,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,643 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Wilson itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Wilson
20 public schools with 10,120 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sallie B Howard School (charter) | K-12 | 1,251 | 16.7 |
| James Hunt High | 9-12 | 1,115 | 19.9 |
| Fike High | 9-12 | 1,023 | 18.9 |
| Wilson Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-12 | 755 | 18.4 |
| Beddingfield High | 9-12 | 683 | 15.2 |
| Forest Hills Middle | 6-8 | 626 | 17.9 |
| John W Jones Elementary | PK-5 | 584 | 17.2 |
| Vinson-Bynum Elementary | K-5 | 475 | 14.8 |
| New Hope Elementary | K-5 | 453 | 16.8 |
| Rock Ridge Elementary | K-5 | 449 | 16.6 |
| Margaret Hearne Elementary | PK-5 | 443 | 15.8 |
| Charles H Darden Middle | 6-8 | 389 | 16.9 |
Towns near Wilson
- Elm City, NC6.5 mi · 1,218 people · home $109,300
- Black Creek, NC6.5 mi · 692 people · home $112,200
- Lucama, NC7.4 mi · 1,036 people · home $115,500
- Bailey, NC10.8 mi · 568 people · home $155,700
- Stantonsburg, NC10.8 mi · 762 people · home $132,600
- Sharpsburg, NC10.9 mi · 1,697 people · home $121,900
- Fremont, NC13.2 mi · 1,196 people · home $147,800
- Kenly, NC14.3 mi · 1,491 people · home $205,200
Wilson questions
Is Wilson, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilson scores better for retirees than 24% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 10%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Wilson?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilson is valued at $210,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,485, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $971 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilson?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Wilson get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 8, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)