Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Wilmington

Wilmington ranks #3 of 15 North Carolina metros on owner occupancy rate, with 72.1% of homes occupied by owners—behind only Pinehurst-Southern Pines and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton. This isn't just a number; it's a structural advantage in a tightening credit environment. With homeowners locked into fixed-rate mortgages and low inventory, the city resists volatility and maintains steady demand. The data comes from ALEX Intelligence’s analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2024, published November 10, 2026: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-10-wilmington-standing-owner-share-msa. How does this level of ownership stability influence your investment or relocation strategy? What’s the cost of such resilience in terms of supply and affordability? Owner Occupancy Rate, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Pinehurst-Southern Pines — 76.4% #2 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton — 73.8% #3 Wilmington — 72.1% #4 Asheville — 69.6% #5 Winston-Salem — 69.2% #6 Raleigh-Cary — 66.6% #7 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia — 65.9% #8 Burlington — 65.0% #9 Greensboro-High Point — 63.8% #10 Jacksonville — 63.7% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Sanfranman59 (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=8570185; Slide 2: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=86108426; Slide 3: Edward Orde (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53165156; Slide 4: Edward Orde (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=53139360 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-10-wilmington-standing-owner-share-msa 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