New Hanover County, North Carolina Income Statistics
New Hanover County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
New Hanover County Below averageWealthier than 82% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | New Hanover County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $75,172 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,573 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.4% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in New Hanover County is about 4% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in New Hanover County (4.9%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 14% of adults in New Hanover County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in New Hanover County, North Carolina grew by 58.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $75,172 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in New Hanover County
| Metric | New Hanover County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.536 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,707 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,459 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.9% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In New Hanover County, it is 0.536, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $393,680 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in New Hanover County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 25% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $118 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | New Hanover County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,809 people are unemployed in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in New Hanover County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in New Hanover County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.0% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.4% in 2013.
New Hanover County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
New Hanover County, NC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 235,214 residents against a local median of 65,530. The measure that sets New Hanover County, NC apart most is income growth: 4.9%/yr, 15% below the local median of 5.8%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.0%/yr on income growth, so New Hanover County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. New Hanover County, NC has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County, NC | 235,214 | $75,172 #3/6 | 4.9%/yr #5/6 | 4.5% #3/6 | 0.536 #4/6 |
| Pender County, NC | 65,530 | $80,638 | 7.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.549 |
| Brunswick County, NC | 152,554 | $77,075 | 5.8%/yr | 4.6% | 0.512 |
| Onslow County, NC | 207,702 | $68,395 | 4.9%/yr | 3.5% | 0.513 |
| Duplin County, NC | 49,292 | $55,498 | 5.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.515 |
| Columbus County, NC | 50,166 | $49,633 | 4.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.559 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, New Hanover County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is New Hanover County, North Carolina?
New Hanover County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $75,172, about 4% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in New Hanover County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in New Hanover County, North Carolina rose 59%, from $47,369 to $75,172. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +59% against +61%.
What was the median household income in New Hanover County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in New Hanover County, North Carolina was $72,633, up 7% from $67,624 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in New Hanover County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in New Hanover County, North Carolina was $57,117. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $75,172.
What is the Gini coefficient in New Hanover County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in New Hanover County is 0.536. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in New Hanover County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in New Hanover County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 25% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $118 since 2009.
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