Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Wilmington

🏆 Ranked #1 in Population — Wilmington, NC — ALEX Intelligence, 2026. Wilmington’s 120,805 residents dominate the Cape Fear region, outpacing its nearest peers by over 30,000. This isn’t just a demographic headline—it’s a signal of a deeper shift: urban core consolidation over suburban sprawl. The data comes from the ALEX Intelligence report 'The Largest Cities in the Wilmington Market,' published October 3, 2026. What does this mean for real estate strategy in the region? As growth concentrates in the city center, opportunities in adjacent areas like Leland and Murraysville may be constrained by infrastructure and service capacity. Yet, this also creates a premium for well-located urban assets and signals long-term resilience for the core. How are you positioning for a market where the center is not just growing—but defining the region’s future? Largest Cities in the Wilmington Market (ALEX Intelligence — 2026) #1 Wilmington — New Hanover County <- this market #2 Leland — New Hanover County #3 Murraysville — New Hanover County #4 Myrtle Grove — New Hanover County #5 Hampstead — Pender County #6 Oak Island — Brunswick County #7 Kings Grant — New Hanover County #8 Ogden — New Hanover County #9 Porters Neck — New Hanover County #10 St. James — New Hanover County Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-03-wilmington-population-place-mkt View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902