Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Wilmington

Wake County, NC, is the single largest source of net household inflow to the Wilmington market — with 381 more households moving from Wake to Wilmington than the reverse in 2022–23. This isn’t just migration; it’s strategic relocation by professionals seeking balance. The data comes from ALEX Intelligence’s latest migration analysis, based on IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county inflows. https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-07-wilmington-mig-net-partner What does this mean for the future of the Cape Fear coast? As the Triangle’s cost of living pressures escalate, Wilmington is becoming the preferred destination for high-income workers looking for sustainability without compromise. This is not a temporary trend — it’s a structural shift in where talent chooses to live. Net Households Gained From a Single County, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Internal Revenue Service 2023) #1 Wake County, NC — 381 #2 Cumberland County, NC — 167 #3 Suffolk County, NY — 151 #4 Fairfax County, VA — 140 #5 Guilford County, NC — 114 #6 San Diego County, CA — 98 #7 Maricopa County, AZ — 71 #8 Johnston County, NC — 69 #9 Mecklenburg County, NC — 66 #10 Forsyth County, NC — 62 Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: DiscoA340 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=128290134; Slide 2: Donald Lee Pardue (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=138736840; Slide 3: Idawriter (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53836866; Slide 4: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=86132306 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-07-wilmington-mig-net-partner 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