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Data updated 2026-10-07

ZIP Code 28480 · Wrightsville Beach, NC

New Hanover County · pop 2,776 · ACS 2020–2024

The median household income in ZIP Code 28480 (Wrightsville Beach, NC) is $172,500, higher than 99% of the other ZIP Codes in North Carolina.

Its FHFA home price index changed +49.4% over the five years to 2021.

01 — Where it stands

$172,500
Median household income
± $85,697 MOE
LOW RELIABILITY
$1,131,800
Median home value
± $162,237 MOE
$2,336
Median gross rent
3.8%
Poverty rate
Percentiles for ZIP Code 28480 within New Hanover County, North Carolina and the U.S.
MeasureValueCounty percentileState percentileU.S. percentile
Median household income$172,500 ± $85,697LOW RELIABILITY100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)97th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Per capita income$103,755100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)98th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Poverty rate3.8%11th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)4th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)7th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher73.8%100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)98th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)97th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Owner-occupied homes81.5%66th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)73rd percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)65th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Housing vacancy rate53.7%100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)97th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)98th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Median home value$1,131,800 ± $162,237100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (684 ZIP Codes compared)98th percentile (22,833 ZIP Codes compared)
Median gross rent$2,336100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (688 ZIP Codes compared)95th percentile (22,865 ZIP Codes compared)
Income inequality (Gini index)0.48266th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)79th percentile (689 ZIP Codes compared)82nd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Average adjusted gross income per return$380,876100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (675 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared)
Returns with AGI of $200,000 or more30.4%100th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)99th percentile (675 ZIP Codes compared)97th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared)
Home price index, 5-year change+49.4%0th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)16th percentile (576 ZIP Codes compared)44th percentile (18,843 ZIP Codes compared)
Business establishments per 1,000 residents59.488th percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)97th percentile (685 ZIP Codes compared)96th percentile (22,700 ZIP Codes compared)
Average annual pay per employee$41,88633rd percentile (10 ZIP Codes compared)40th percentile (683 ZIP Codes compared)27th percentile (22,551 ZIP Codes compared)

Percentile groups: New Hanover County · North Carolina · U.S. Hover a percentile for the number of ZIP Codes compared. MOE = 90% margin of error.

02 — Home prices

+12.9%
1-year change
2020–2021
+49.4%
5-year change
2016–2021
+71.1%
10-year change
2011–2021

Home price index — ZIP Code 28480

Home price index, ZIP Code 28480, 2000–2021Line chart of the annual home price index: 100.0 in 2000 and 305.4 in 2021. Every value is listed in the data table below the chart.10020030040020002005201020152021305.4

FHFA ZIP Code index (2000 = 100) — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.

Data table
Home price index by year, ZIP Code 28480
YearIndexAnnual change
2000100.0+2.3%
2001107.9+7.9%
2002109.6+1.6%
2003118.2+7.8%
2004143.5+21.4%
2005189.9+32.4%
2006201.0+5.8%
2007220.0+9.5%
2008222.2+1.0%
2009228.2+2.7%
2010206.4−9.6%
2011178.5−13.5%
2012178.8+0.2%
2013165.6−7.4%
2014185.7+12.2%
2015198.7+7.0%
2016204.4+2.9%
2017194.8−4.7%
2018230.7+18.5%
2019240.3+4.1%
2020270.6+12.6%
2021305.4+12.8%

03 — Nearby ZIP Codes

ZIP Code 28480 and nearby ZIP Codes
ZIPPlaceDistanceMedian household incomeMedian home valuePoverty rate5-yr HPI change
28480Wrightsville Beach, NCthis ZIP Code$172,500$1,131,8003.8%+49.4%
28403Wilmington, NC4.6 mi$54,547$386,70024.8%+76.3%
28405Wilmington, NC5.2 mi$70,274$368,50013.8%+70.3%
28409Wilmington, NC5.6 mi$111,048$422,6004.3%+65.1%
28411Wilmington, NC6.0 mi$97,387$396,4004.3%+66.3%
28412Wilmington, NC8.7 mi$71,636$371,90011.2%+57.5%
28429Castle Hayne, NC10.4 mi$72,337$239,20017.9%+69.7%

Up to six nearest ZIP Code Tabulation Areas within 30 miles, by straight-line distance between Census center points (2024 Gazetteer).

04 — Business mix

165
Establishments
1,587
Employees
$66.5M
Annual payroll
$41,886
Average pay per employee
Establishments by sector, ZIP Code 28480
SectorEstablishmentsShare of ZIPU.S. shareRelative concentration
Real estate & rental2917.6%5.5%3.2×
Accommodation & food services2716.4%9.3%1.8×
Professional, scientific & technical services2615.8%11.7%1.3×
Other services169.7%9.5%1.0×
Retail trade159.1%12.4%0.7×
Construction148.5%9.6%0.9×
Health care & social assistance84.8%11.9%0.4×
Arts, entertainment & recreation84.8%1.9%2.6×
Administrative & support services74.2%5.3%0.8×
Finance & insurance63.6%5.5%0.7×
All other sectors31.8%1.3%1.4×

Counts are establishments (business locations), not jobs. Relative concentration = the sector’s share of establishments here divided by its share in the U.S. (1.0× = the same share). Average pay is shown only where at least 20 employees are reported. ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.

05 — About this data

How percentiles are calculated

Percentiles compare this ZIP Code with other ZIP Codes in the same county, the same state and the whole country. Only ZIP Codes with their own American Community Survey estimate, a population of at least 1,000 and a published median household income are compared, and only those with a value for the measure. A percentile of 64th means the value is higher than 64% of the other ZIP Codes in that group (0 is the lowest value, 100 the highest); it describes the size of a number, not a judgment about the area. County and state percentiles are left blank when the group has fewer than 5 ZIP Codes. The number of ZIP Codes compared is shown with each percentile.

Census figures are published for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP Code delivery areas; values shown as — are not published or are suppressed by the source.

Use of this page

Area statistics only. These figures describe a ZIP Code area — not any person or household — and do not rate the area or the people who live there. CoverFi is not a consumer reporting agency; do not use this page to make decisions about credit, insurance, employment or housing.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. Estimates are survey-based and have margins of error.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 (establishment counts by NAICS sector; employment and payroll totals).
  3. Federal Housing Finance Agency, House Price Index for five-digit ZIP Codes, census tracts and counties — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
  4. IRS Statistics of Income, Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data, tax year 2022.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (ZCTA locations, used for nearby ZIP Codes).
  6. HUD USPS ZIP Code Crosswalk Files (ZIP-to-tract and ZIP-to-county assignment).

This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the HUD User Data API but is not endorsed or certified by HUD User. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are Census approximations of USPS ZIP Code delivery areas and may not match them exactly. ZIP Code is a trademark of the United States Postal Service.