The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 28409 sells for about $598,000, or $234 per square foot.
Prices are up +16.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 35 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $2,400 a month.
ZIP 28409 — Wilmington
The 28409 housing market remains competitive with a median home price of $598,000, reflecting strong demand for coastal residential property. While inventory is tight, the market shows signs of stabilization with a 16.5% year-over-year price increase. Buyers are active, though affordability remains a key factor for new entrants.
This ZIP is ideal for families and professionals seeking coastal proximity and suburban amenities, offering a balance between established neighborhoods and newer residential developments.
Median prices moved up 16.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 35 days on market with 3.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.1% · poverty 4.3% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 28409, New Hanover County, NC
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime in the Wilmington area is generally consistent with regional averages for mid-sized coastal cities, with property crime being more prevalent than violent crime. Residents are encouraged to monitor local police department reports for specific neighborhood-level trends.
The area is served by the New Hanover County School District, which generally maintains a stable reputation with several highly-rated schools serving the coastal Wilmington region.
The area faces significant hurricane and flood risks due to its coastal location in southeastern North Carolina, necessitating robust property insurance coverage.
Economic momentum is driven by the Wilmington metro area's healthcare, education, and tourism sectors, with ongoing residential development in the Masonboro and coastal corridors.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (North Carolina) — Tax Lien Attachment: A tax lien attaches to all real property, taking priority over all other liens and encumbrances regardless of when they were created. State (North Carolina) — Ad Valorem Property Tax: Tax is calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by the combined state and local tax rate. The formula is: Tax = (Assessed Value / 100) * Tax Rate.
Residents typically commute via major corridors like Carolina Beach Road and Masonboro Loop Road toward downtown Wilmington and the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus.
The area features extensive access to the Intracoastal Waterway, Masonboro Island Reserve, and various community parks, with proximity to major shopping centers along the Oleander Drive corridor.
The rental market is characterized by high demand for single-family homes and proximity to the coast, with rents trending upward due to limited inventory.
The economy is anchored by the Wilmington metro area, with major employers including New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and various regional logistics and tourism firms.
Transportation is primarily automobile-dependent, relying on a network of state highways and local arterial roads connecting to the broader Wilmington transit infrastructure.
Ongoing residential infill and suburban expansion projects are active throughout the southern Wilmington corridor.
The New Hanover County Tax Department manages property assessments, typically conducting revaluations on a multi-year cycle to reflect market value changes.
Parcels are subject to New Hanover County and City of Wilmington tax levies, with additional service districts for fire and emergency management.
Property insurance premiums are elevated due to the area's high exposure to wind and flood hazards associated with Atlantic coastal weather patterns.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter and US Zip Codes based on ACS 2024 vintages.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher4.614 mi
- Indochine Restaurant4.55.9 mi
- Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park4.43.3 mi
- Live Oak Bank Pavilion4.27.7 mi
- Wilmington Convention Center4.57.4 mi
- Battleship North Carolina4.87.1 mi
- Carolina Beach Boardwalk4.58.8 mi
- Wilmington Riverwalk, Battleship Eastside Site.4.76.9 mi
- Airlie Gardens4.84.7 mi
- Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park4.43.3 mi
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher4.614 mi
- Battleship North Carolina4.87.1 mi
- Fort Fisher State Historic Site4.813.3 mi
- The Cotton Exchange4.57.1 mi
- The Children's Museum of Wilmington4.46.7 mi
- Airlie Gardens4.84.7 mi
- Carolina Beach State Park4.78.2 mi
- Long Leaf Park4.73.4 mi
- Freeman Park Beach4.66.9 mi
- Ogden Park4.77.9 mi
- Deep Point Marina & Yacht Club4.517.4 mi
- Morningstar Marinas Southport4.718.9 mi
- St James Properties4.118.4 mi
- Carolina Yacht Club4.54.9 mi
- Port City Marina4.57.5 mi
- Beau Rivage Golf & Resort4.43.7 mi
- Cape Fear Country Club4.65 mi
- Wilmington Municipal Golf Course4.13.3 mi
- Magnolia Greens Golf Course4.410.9 mi
- Olde Fort Golf Course4.16.8 mi
- Independence Mall4.14.3 mi
- T.J. Maxx4.35.2 mi
- Publix Super Market Commons at Federal Point4.68.1 mi
- Kohl's4.45.7 mi
- Marshalls4.25.6 mi
- Wilmington International Airport4.37.8 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A protected barrier island accessible by boat, popular for recreation.
Features walking trails and nature education facilities.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.