Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Wilmington, NC metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Wilmington, NC metro area's all-transactions index changed +3.7% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +2.4% for North Carolina and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 173rd of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +3.7%
- 5-year change
- +59.6%
- Since Q1 1995
- +361%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 173rd
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Wilmington, NC vs North Carolina and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Wilmington, NC: 460.5
- North Carolina: 376.3
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | NC | U.S. | Gap vs NC | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.7% | +2.4% | +3.0% | +1.3 pts | +0.7 pts |
| 3 years | +14.1% | +12.3% | +12.9% | +1.7 pts | +1.2 pts |
| 5 years | +59.6% | +51.4% | +41.3% | +8.2 pts | +18.4 pts |
| 10 years | +134% | +113% | +93.3% | +20.7 pts | +40.7 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +361% | +276% | +292% | +84.2 pts | +68.9 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Wilmington, NC area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 284 · Wilmington, NC area | NC | +4.0% | +59.3% | +355% | 77% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Wilmington, NC area
Wilmington, NC area's index peaked in Q1 2008, fell 26.0% to its low in Q4 2012, and regained its peak in Q2 2019, about 11.2 years after the top. Today it sits +92.7% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2008 | Q4 2012 | -26.0% | Q2 2019 (11.2 yrs) | +92.7% |
| NC | Q1 2008 | Q2 2012 | -13.1% | Q4 2016 (8.8 yrs) | +109% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Wilmington, NC area's index has changed +108% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | NC after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -0.2% | -1.4% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +3.9% | +2.3% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +28.7% | +22.1% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +68.3% | +53.4% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +108% | +70.0% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Wilmington, NC area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +352% | $1,356,007 |
| Q2 2000 | +252% | $1,055,305 |
| Q2 2005 | +149% | $745,508 |
| Q2 2010 | +134% | $701,732 |
| Q2 2015 | +140% | $720,808 |
| Q2 2020 | +83.5% | $550,376 |
| Q2 2021 | +59.7% | $478,956 |
| Q2 2023 | +14.1% | $342,184 |
| Q2 2025 | +3.7% | $311,093 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Wilmington, NC area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Wilmington, NC metro area shows changes of +3.7% over one year, +59.6% over five years, and +134% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +361% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Wilmington, NC area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +0.7 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +18.4 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.