Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Wilmington

Wilmington’s top ZIP code has a 1.7x rent gap between the highest and median rents—making it the most unequal rental market in North Carolina. This data comes directly from ALEX Intelligence’s new analysis of U.S. Census 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, which ranks ZIP 28480 as the top performer in rent disparity across the state. What does this mean for affordability in the Cape Fear coast? How can investors and policymakers respond when the middle is being squeezed between luxury and unaffordable? The answer lies not in broad policy, but in targeted supply and zoning reform. This is not a national trend—it’s a local reality. Learn more: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-21-wilmington-spread-gross-rent-zcta Top-to-Median Gross Rent Gap, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 ZIP 28480 — $2,336 #2 ZIP 28411 — $1,778 #3 ZIP 28451 — $1,612 #4 ZIP 28422 — $1,564 #5 ZIP 28467 — $1,511 #6 ZIP 28428 — $1,505 #7 ZIP 28443 — $1,447 #8 ZIP 28405 — $1,440 #9 ZIP 28412 — $1,411 #10 ZIP 28409 — $1,405 Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: DiscoA340 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=125048298; Slide 2: Idawriter (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53837502; Slide 3: DiscoA340 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=128290078; Slide 4: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=86132981 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-21-wilmington-spread-gross-rent-zcta 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