Wilmington receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Wilmington
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Opportunity
74 · Top 17%
vs80 · Top 11%
Growth
81 · Top 5%
vs77 · Top 10%
Climate
83 · Top 3%
vs73 · Top 28%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 13%
vs15 · Bottom 6%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 14%
vs65 · Bottom 9%
Access
97 · Top 12%
vs85 · Top 33%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 48%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Wilmington | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 453,347 | 227,455 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,471 | $83,304 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,500 | $51,125 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 237/sq mi | 185/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $362,400 | $439,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,389 | $1,573 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.1% | 76.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | 1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 43.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8,147 | 2,626 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 18.0 | 11.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.9% | -24.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 40°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 60.1" | 45.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 26.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.4 | 47.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Wilmington
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake, coastal flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Wilmington
69
Your Score
67
Area Score
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
62
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Wilmington, NC Metro Area · Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology