County profile · North Carolina
New Hanover County, NC market data
How New Hanover County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 245,959
- +8.6% since 2020
- Households
- 104,856
- Median household income
- $75,166
- +36.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $387,800
- Jobs located here
- 128,058
- Highest market score
- 75
- Gas stations, #257 of 2,358 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in New Hanover County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of New Hanover County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
New Hanover County has an estimated 245,959 people and 104,856 households. Population estimates show New Hanover County grew 8.6% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in New Hanover County is $75,166, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 36.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in New Hanover County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (79).
Of the business types scored in New Hanover County, gas stations (75), funeral homes (72) and convenience stores (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #257 of 2,358 scored counties.
New Hanover County is part of the Wilmington metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for roofing and gutter companies (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for funeral homes (33% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in New Hanover County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares New Hanover County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 75 | #257 of 2,358 | 93 | 8.9 | $3.1M | 130 | 81 |
| Funeral homes | 72 | #198 of 1,472 | 15 | 1.4 | $910K | 134 | 9 |
| Convenience stores | 72 | #386 of 2,261 | 100 | 9.5 | $6.4M | 81 | 20 |
| Child care and preschools | 65 | #402 of 1,611 | 56 | 5.3 | $909K | 91 | 56 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 63 | #685 of 2,402 | 226 | 21.6 | $2.8M | 84 | 73 |
| Laundromats | 62 | #245 of 785 | 14 | 1.3 | $14.6M | 116 | 9 |
| Dry cleaners | 60 | #158 of 507 | 8 | 0.8 | $25.5M | 163 | 20 |
| Pizza | 60 | #648 of 2,090 | 83 | 7.9 | $4.9M | 97 | 236 |
| Grocery stores | 60 | #687 of 2,070 | 72 | 6.9 | $8.9M | 96 | 53 |
| Barbershops | 55 | #577 of 1,356 | 55 | 5.2 | $1.8M | 93 | 7 |
| Veterinarians | 54 | #651 of 1,485 | 52 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 69 | 38 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 51 | #691 of 1,493 | 82 | 7.8 | $1.9M | 66 | 135 |
| Pet businesses | 50 | #1,117 of 2,200 | 161 | 15.4 | $605K | 69 | 86 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 48 | #700 of 1,327 | 32 | 3.1 | $2.9M | 93 | 34 |
| Nail salons | 48 | #771 of 1,328 | 86 | 8.2 | $1.1M | 67 | 17 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 48 | #794 of 1,461 | 65 | 6.2 | $1.5M | 59 | 32 |
| Insurance agencies | 48 | #1,202 of 2,272 | 205 | 19.6 | $1.2M | 96 | 129 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #1,241 of 2,222 | 177 | 16.9 | $2.3M | 75 | 236 |
| Electricians | 47 | #665 of 1,160 | 38 | 3.6 | $8.2M | 68 | 106 |
| Pet stores | 46 | #559 of 974 | 30 | 2.9 | $3.2M | 72 | 16 |
| Tire shops | 46 | #888 of 1,530 | 52 | 5.0 | $1.8M | 70 | 19 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #1,009 of 1,707 | 97 | 9.3 | $3.2M | 67 | 124 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 43 | #323 of 479 | 17 | 1.6 | $5.4M | 39 | 6 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 43 | #1,072 of 1,656 | 86 | 8.2 | $1.4M | 78 | 184 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 42 | #1,187 of 1,771 | 159 | 15.2 | $1M | 60 | 240 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 42 | #1,225 of 1,889 | 123 | 11.7 | $3.3M | 80 | 120 |
| Home inspectors | 41 | #275 of 415 | 9 | 0.9 | Index only | 69 | 14 |
| Pest control | 41 | #477 of 699 | 33 | 3.1 | $4.8M | 47 | 22 |
| House cleaning | 41 | #589 of 847 | 44 | 4.2 | $3.6M | 57 | 83 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 40 | #228 of 325 | 6 | 0.6 | $19.9M | 81 | 19 |
| Roofing and gutters | 39 | #850 of 1,177 | 94 | 9.0 | $3.3M | 39 | 30 |
| Chiropractors | 39 | #1,052 of 1,490 | 75 | 7.2 | $1.6M | 67 | 43 |
| Home repair trades | 39 | #1,554 of 2,057 | 229 | 21.8 | $1.4M | 56 | 260 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 39 | #1,702 of 2,405 | 781 | 74.5 | $522K | 79 | 332 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 38 | #1,487 of 2,087 | 259 | 24.7 | $787K | 62 | 146 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 38 | #1,499 of 2,063 | 176 | 16.8 | $2.3M | 63 | 109 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 37 | #1,008 of 1,334 | 64 | 6.1 | $1.3M | 63 | 38 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 37 | #1,642 of 2,210 | 335 | 31.9 | $609K | 69 | 175 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 37 | #1,760 of 2,405 | 1,507 | 143.7 | $270K | 73 | 685 |
| Auto repair shops | 37 | #1,782 of 2,378 | 257 | 24.5 | $355K | 80 | 135 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 36 | #992 of 1,302 | 64 | 6.1 | $1.9M | 60 | 24 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #1,852 of 2,339 | 319 | 30.4 | $303K | 70 | 88 |
| Property management | 35 | #705 of 910 | 48 | 4.6 | Index only | 61 | 113 |
| Gyms | 35 | #1,399 of 1,792 | 124 | 11.8 | $658K | 51 | 43 |
| Auto repair and car care | 35 | #1,857 of 2,401 | 442 | 42.2 | $206K | 77 | 190 |
| Car washes and detailing | 34 | #1,123 of 1,451 | 54 | 5.1 | $1.7M | 67 | 25 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 33 | #1,717 of 2,088 | 246 | 23.5 | $332K | 50 | 81 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 33 | #1,952 of 2,176 | 585 | 55.8 | Index only | 51 | 326 |
| Real estate | 33 | #1,991 of 2,229 | 744 | 71.0 | Index only | 50 | 560 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 33 | #2,046 of 2,385 | 678 | 64.7 | $142K | 67 | 167 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 32 | #1,596 of 1,886 | 155 | 14.8 | $771K | 78 | 130 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 31 | #687 of 777 | 58 | 5.5 | $1.4M | 35 | 43 |
| Physical therapy | 31 | #1,198 of 1,422 | 94 | 9.0 | $1.3M | 53 | 62 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 31 | #2,071 of 2,394 | 1,210 | 115.4 | $99K | 65 | 462 |
| Spas and skin care | 30 | #1,537 of 1,769 | 205 | 19.6 | $471K | 54 | 51 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 29 | #798 of 887 | 102 | 9.7 | Index only | 41 | 47 |
Household spending in New Hanover County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $91.3M | $870 | 91 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $289.2M | $2,758 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $407.5M | $3,886 | 95 |
| Groceries | $641.6M | $6,119 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $96.5M | $920 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $50.9M | $486 | 84 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $81.6M | $778 | 79 |
| Medical and dental services | $119.5M | $1,140 | 88 |
| Pets | $97.4M | $929 | 102 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $204M | $1,945 | 95 |
| Vehicle insurance | $246.6M | $2,351 | 120 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $311M | $2,966 | 98 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $159.3M | $1,520 | 107 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.6B | $15,455 | 93 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in New Hanover County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 245,959+8.6% since 2020
- Households
- 104,856
- Median age
- 41.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 192 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,223
- Median household income
- $75,166+36.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $107,828
- Median home value
- $387,800
- Jobs located here
- 128,058
- Daytime population
- 260,358Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in New Hanover County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of New Hanover County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Pender County, NC65,550 people
- Brunswick County, NC152,568 people
- Onslow County, NC207,906 people
- Columbus County, NC50,140 people
- Duplin County, NC49,335 people
- Bladen County, NC29,566 people
- Jones County, NC9,302 people
- Sampson County, NC59,470 people
Questions
How fast is New Hanover County, NC growing?
Population estimates put New Hanover County at 245,959 people in 2025, up 8.6% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 104,856 households. Median household income rose 36.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in New Hanover County, NC spend?
Households in New Hanover County spend about $1.6B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $641.6M on groceries and $407.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in New Hanover County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (79).
Which business types have the highest market scores in New Hanover County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in New Hanover County are for gas stations (75), funeral homes (72) and convenience stores (72). New Hanover County ranks #257 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
How does New Hanover County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in New Hanover County is $75,166 a year, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 8.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $387,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, New Hanover County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for roofing and gutter companies (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for funeral homes (33% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in New Hanover County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in New Hanover County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in New Hanover County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of New Hanover County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.