Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Wilmington

Kings Grant leads North Carolina in rent burden, with 49.8% of renters spending over half their income on rent—just below the crisis threshold. This data, drawn from ALEX Intelligence’s analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, reveals a stark affordability gap in one of the region’s fastest-growing communities. While new Opportunity Zones are being activated in Wilmington and Carolina Beach, the benefits are not yet reaching renters in high-burden areas. This is not a national trend—it’s a local pressure point. How can we ensure that growth benefits the workers who make it possible? The answer lies in aligning housing policy with wage growth, not just construction. This data comes from: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-08-wilmington-severe-rent-burden-place-mkt Renters Over the 50% Rent Threshold, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Kings Grant — 49.8% #2 Oak Island — 39.9% #3 Silver Lake — 39.3% #4 Wilmington — 28.7% #5 Hampstead — 28.0% #6 Carolina Beach — 26.9% #7 Wrightsboro — 24.3% #8 Leland — 23.4% #9 Murraysville — 20.1% #10 Myrtle Grove — 19.8% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Edward Orde (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53138587; Slide 2: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=86106989; Slide 3: DiscoA340 (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=125047430; Slide 4: Geakins (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=51183697 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-08-wilmington-severe-rent-burden-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