Who moves to Wilmington, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for New Hanover County, NC, home of Wilmington, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 14,238from other US counties
- Moved out
- 12,529to other US counties
- Net
- +1,709more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 70tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Brunswick County, NC | 1,201 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 1,015 |
| Pender County, NC | 796 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 432 |
| Onslow County, NC | 372 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 197 |
| Durham County, NC (Durham) | 183 |
| Cumberland County, NC (Fayetteville) | 158 |
| Forsyth County, NC (Winston-Salem) | 149 |
| Johnston County, NC | 138 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 129 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 111 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Brunswick County, NC | 2,149 |
| Pender County, NC | 1,445 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 707 |
| Onslow County, NC | 457 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 437 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 191 |
| Duplin County, NC | 180 |
| Durham County, NC (Durham) | 148 |
| Horry County, SC | 134 |
| Buncombe County, NC (Asheville) | 125 |
| Columbus County, NC | 114 |
| Johnston County, NC | 105 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 6,642 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in North Carolina and 7,596 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 1,015 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 432 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 197 |
| Durham County, NC (Durham) | 183 |
| Forsyth County, NC (Winston-Salem) | 149 |
| San Diego County, CA (San Diego) | 129 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 111 |
| Pitt County, NC (Greenville) | 103 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 707 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 437 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 191 |
| Durham County, NC (Durham) | 148 |
| Buncombe County, NC (Asheville) | 125 |
| Forsyth County, NC (Winston-Salem) | 98 |
| Pitt County, NC (Greenville) | 92 |
| Orange County, NC | 81 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Wilmington come from?
Most people moving into New Hanover County, NC come from nearby counties, led by Brunswick County, NC (1,201 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Wake County, NC.
Where do people leaving Wilmington move to?
The top destination is Brunswick County, NC (2,149 people). Farther away, the most popular is Wake County, NC.
Are more people moving to Wilmington or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 14,238 people moved into New Hanover County, NC from elsewhere in the US and 12,529 moved out, a net gain of 1,709 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Wilmington with any city it trades people with, like Wilmington vs Raleigh, Wilmington vs Charlotte, Wilmington vs Greensboro, Wilmington vs Durham.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Wilmington.