1st Advantage MortgageWith a median home value of $186,000 against a median household income of $56,423, housing takes a large share of budgets in Wilson County. If a personal loan is on your list, compare total cost rather than monthly payment, check the written APR and fees, and make sure the lender is licensed in North Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Wilson County in numbers
- Paychecks in Wilson County
- Wilson County households and housing
- Jobs data for the Wilson County area
- A median Wilson County budget
- Reading the Wilson County data as a borrower
- Where Wilson County ranks
- Local background
- Do this before signing in Wilson County
- Other guides in the area
- How Wilson County's population is spread
- What kind of homes Wilson County has
- Wilson County income ladder
- Neighbors of Wilson County: people and schooling
- Where Wilson County ranks in North Carolina
- Frequently asked questions
Wilson County in numbers
Figures are American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates for Wilson County, North Carolina, with margins of error. They describe the place, not you.
Paychecks in Wilson County
Count the jobs held by Wilson County residents and education and health care comes out on top (22%), followed by manufacturing at 17% and retail at 12%. One lean worth noting: manufacturing, which employs 17% of Wilson County residents compared with 14% in the median place.
A median hides the edges. The ACS counts 31% of Wilson County households under $35,000 and 24% at $100,000 or higher, with 5% above $200,000. That is 2 points below the Carolina county median on six-figure households and 2 above it on households under $35,000. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, is 0.47.
Wilson County households and housing
Wilson County has a median age of 40.6 and a bachelor's-or-higher rate of 22% among adults 25 and older. Wilson County is younger than typical by 1.6 years and less likely to hold a degree by 2 points. These are context, not predictions: scores come from payment history, balances and length of credit, not from where you live.
The housing stock in Wilson County breaks down as 63% detached houses, 8% apartments in larger buildings and 14% mobile homes, per the ACS. Detached homes run 4 points below the typical place in our set. Housing stock is also a clue to commute length and to how much maintenance falls on the household.
Jobs data for the Wilson County area
The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the unemployment rate in Wilson County at 4.2% for September 2026 (not seasonally adjusted, preliminary), down 0.7 points from 4.9% a year earlier. A low rate does not mean every household is secure, and a high one does not mean every household is struggling.
A median Wilson County budget
Median rent in Wilson County ($953) runs 20% of the median monthly household income ($4,702 before taxes). The 30% yardstick works out to $1,411. Apply a 36% debt-to-income test and a median-earning household in Wilson County could carry roughly $1,693 a month in total debt payments, housing included. Buying the median home would take about 3.3 years of median income. Taxes, insurance, transport and food come out of the same paycheck, so the room left over is smaller than the percentages suggest.
Reading the Wilson County data as a borrower
Only 60% of Wilson County households own their home, so most local borrowers rent. Deposits, moves and card balances are typical reasons to borrow; keep the amount close to the actual cost.
Wilson County workers mostly have short trips to work (13% travel 45 minutes or more), below most of the 146-place Carolina county set. Transportation costs are likely to be a smaller line in many budgets.
Unemployment in Wilson County runs 5.6%, above most places we cover. Lenders look hard at income stability, so documented, steady income matters.
Where Wilson County ranks
In the 146 Carolina county places in our dataset, Wilson County has a median household income of $56,423 (93rd of 146, top down), a median gross rent of $953 (65th of 146, top down), and a median home value of $186,000 (86th of 146, top down). Rankings shift with every Census release.
Two reference points among North Carolina places of similar population: Chatham County ($94,317 income, $1,180 rent), where Wilson County runs 40% below on income and 19% below on rent and Caldwell County ($56,425 income, $744 rent), where Wilson County runs 0% below on income and 28% above on rent.
Local background
Wilson has its own guide; The Census Bureau lists 8 places in Wilson County. By population the biggest are Wilson, Kenly, Elm City, Lucama. This page is the local guide for Kenly, Elm City and the rest of Wilson County.
Do this before signing in Wilson County
- License check for Wilson County borrowers: the NC Commissioner of Banks lists licensed consumer finance companies.
- Line up three offers for Wilson County and compare APR, fees and total repayment in the side-by-side calculator.
- Keep every document in one folder: disclosure, agreement, payment confirmations.
- Check the payment against Wilson County rent or mortgage in the DTI calculator before applying anywhere.
- Read your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and fix errors before you shop.
Other guides in the area
How Wilson County's population is spread
8 incorporated municipalities and 0 census-designated places lie mainly in Wilson County. Median home values run from $109,300 in Elm City to $210,700 in Wilson (places of 1,000+ people).
| Place | Status | Residents | Share of county | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | incorporated city | 48,370 | 61.0% | $210,700 |
| Kenly | incorporated town | 2,359 | 3.0% | $205,200 |
| Elm City | incorporated town | 1,292 | 1.6% | $109,300 |
| Lucama | incorporated town | 1,205 | 1.5% | $115,500 |
| Stantonsburg | incorporated town | 958 | 1.2% | $132,600 |
| Black Creek | incorporated town | 749 | 0.9% | $112,200 |
| Sims | incorporated town | 522 | 0.7% | $196,900 |
| Saratoga | incorporated town | 291 | 0.4% | $97,900 |
What kind of homes Wilson County has
The housing stock in Wilson County is 63% detached houses; apartments in buildings of 5+ units account for 8%, and mobile homes for 14%. Detached houses (63%) bring roof, HVAC and plumbing bills that are a common reason Wilson County owners borrow.
| Structure type | Wilson County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 63.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 3.2% | -1.5 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 12.0% | +7.4 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 5.6% | -2.6 pts |
| 20 or more units | 2.0% | -4.0 pts |
| Mobile home | 13.9% | +2.9 pts |
Wilson County income ladder
22% of Wilson County households earn less than $25,000 a year, against 16% across North Carolina; 24% earn $100,000 or more. For the 31% of Wilson County households under $35,000, free help and payment plans usually beat borrowing (no-cost options).
| Household income | Wilson County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 12.4% | +3.7 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 10.0% | +2.9 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 9.0% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 12.9% | +1.2 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 18.2% | +1.4 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 13.1% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 14.4% | -2.2 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 9.9% | -8.7 pts |
Neighbors of Wilson County: people and schooling
The five closest Carolina counties to Wilson County, by distance between county centers. Edgecombe County is the oldest of them (median age 41.7) and Johnston County has the largest share of college graduates (29%).
| County | Distance | Population | Median age | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson County | - | 79,290 | 40.6 | 22% | 20% |
| Nash County, NC | 19 mi | 96,216 | 41.5 | 22% | 12% |
| Greene County, NC | 20 mi | 20,486 | 39.9 | 12% | 21% |
| Edgecombe County, NC | 23 mi | 48,736 | 41.7 | 18% | 22% |
| Wayne County, NC | 24 mi | 118,652 | 37.3 | 22% | 17% |
| Johnston County, NC | 28 mi | 234,263 | 38.1 | 29% | 11% |
Where Wilson County ranks in North Carolina
- On owner share (60%), Wilson County ranks #7 lowest of 100 statewide, against 73% for the middle Carolina county. Most borrowers have no equity to fall back on.
- On poverty (19.8%), Wilson County ranks #20 of 100 statewide, against 15.4% for the middle Carolina county. Assistance programs should come before credit.
- Car-free households puts Wilson County at #21 of 100 among North Carolina counties (7.0%). Transit and ride costs belong in the budget.
- Wilson County: 12.2% for uninsured residents, #21 of 100 in North Carolina. Ask providers about charity care before borrowing.
| Indicator | Wilson County figure | Rank | Median of 146 NC/SC counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner share | 60% | #7 lowest of 100 | 73% |
| Poverty | 19.8% | #20 of 100 | 15.4% |
| Car-free households | 7.0% | #21 of 100 | 5.8% |
| Uninsured residents | 12.2% | #21 of 100 | 10.0% |
Frequently asked questions
I own my home in Wilson County. Is a personal loan better than a HELOC?
Not always, but it keeps the house out of the deal. With 60% of Wilson County homes owner-occupied, many readers have equity; a HELOC may price lower yet is secured by the home. For a modest, one-time need, an unsecured loan is simpler. Get both quotes in writing.
Do you treat Wilson County applicants differently from anyone else?
No. The check looks at what you borrow, your credit range, your income from any source and your monthly payments, and treats every applicant the same. A lender's own decision is separate, and fair-lending laws bind lenders.
Who regulates personal lenders in North Carolina?
Consumer finance lenders that make small loans to Wilson County residents are licensed by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks, which also takes complaints. North Carolina prohibits payday lending. Always verify a lender's license and never pay a fee before funding.
What slows down a loan for a Wilson County applicant?
Usually verification: income documents, identity checks and bank details. Having pay stubs or benefit letters ready is the fastest fix.