What percentage of people rent in Wilson, NC?

Name: Renters and owners in Wilson, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

50.9% (±2.6 points) of the occupied homes in Wilson, NC are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 10,375 renting households against 10,028 that own their home.

In Wilson, the share of households that rent went from 50.7% in 2015–2019 to 50.9% in 2020–2024 (+0.2 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 50.9% (±2.6 points)
Renting households: 10,375 (±553)
Median renter income: $38,547 (±$4,703)

Who rents and who owns in Wilson

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Wilson	Wilson County	North Carolina	United States
Renter-occupied share	50.9% (±2.6 points)	40.0% (±1.8 points)	33.4% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	10,375 (±553)	13,212 (±644)	1,428,852 (±8,279)	45,017,354
Owning households	10,028 (±596)	19,856 (±588)	2,853,493 (±14,473)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.2 (±0.1)	2.2 (±0.1)	2.3 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.4 (±0.1)	2.4 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$38,547 (±$4,703)	$38,438 (±$3,765)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$72,158 (±$8,560)	$71,545 (±$4,708)	$88,911 (±$521)	$100,009

In Wilson, the renter share is higher than in Wilson County (40.0%).

It is also higher than in North Carolina (33.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Wilson County, Wilson ranks 1 of 7 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 86 of 663.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Wilson has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	50.7% (±2.4 points)	50.9% (±2.6 points)	+0.2 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$762 (±$18)	$971 (±$42)	+27.4%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$42,036 (±$3,083)	$52,485 (±$4,430)	+24.9%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Wilson

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Wilson
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Wilson	—	50.9% (±2.6 points)	—
Elm City	6.5 mi	41.9% (±11.5 points)	Not measurably different
Black Creek	6.5 mi	39.9% (±13.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lucama	7.4 mi	48.5% (±13.3 points)	Not measurably different
Sims	7.5 mi	14.8% (±13.7 points)	Lower
Saratoga	10 mi	30.9% (±20.9 points)	Not measurably different
Stantonsburg	11 mi	25.0% (±11.4 points)	Lower
Bailey	11 mi	41.7% (±12.3 points)	Not measurably different
Sharpsburg	11 mi	47.2% (±12.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Sims, NC (14.8%), Stantonsburg, NC (25.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Wilson County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Wilson	50.9% (±2.6 points)
2	Lucama	48.5% (±13.3 points)
3	Elm City	41.9% (±11.5 points)
4	Black Creek	39.9% (±13.3 points)
5	Saratoga	30.9% (±20.9 points)
6	Stantonsburg	25.0% (±11.4 points)
7	Sims	14.8% (±13.7 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Wilson

How many renters are there in Wilson?

Wilson has an estimated 10,375 (±553) renting households, 50.9% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Wilson?

In Wilson, the share of households that rent went from 50.7% in 2015–2019 to 50.9% in 2020–2024 (+0.2 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Wilson?

A renting household in Wilson has 2.2 people on average, against 2.4 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Wilson?

The median renting household in Wilson, NC has an income of $38,547 (±$4,703) a year, against $72,158 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Wilson city, North Carolina (place:74540, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.