Wilson County · Wilson · population 48,579
Where Wilson stands
At or near all-time high. averaging 7.5% annual growth over 5 years.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 13.1 price-to-rent ratio, buying generally beats renting in Wilson on a long-enough horizon. The headline math is that one year of mortgage payments approximates 13.1 years of rent — well below the 15+ threshold where ownership starts to dominate.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Wilson has held up across the cycle: home values at $218,140 with +7.5% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Wilson's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Wilson
Wilson is a city in Wilson County, North Carolina, with an estimated population of 48,579. The median home value in Wilson is $218,140 as of 2026-04, up 1.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +7.5% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Wilson average $1,388 per month, up 3.1% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 69 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Wilson (Wikipedia)
Wilson is a city in and the county seat of Wilson County, North Carolina, United States. It is the 23rd most populous city in North Carolina. Located approximately 40 mi (64 km) east of the capital city of Raleigh, it is served by the interchange of Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 264. As of the 2020 census, Wilson had a population of 47,851. It is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA, with a total population of 297,726 as of 2018.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Wilson County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Wilson County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Wilson
Run the numbers for Wilson
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Wilson listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Wilson man charged with murder after woman dies from multiple injuriesWITN · 9h ago
- Wilson the model for state economic planThe Wilson Times · 7h ago
- Contact Troubleshooter Diane WilsonABC11 Raleigh-Durham · 1d ago
- Why UNC's Wilson Might Be Best Player in NBA DraftSports Illustrated · 1d ago
- Strengthening N.C.'s local governmentsThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · 2w ago
- Jayne Turner Obituary May 7, 2026Wilson Memorial Service · 1w ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Wilson area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Wilson
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.