CountyScore

Wilson County

North Carolina · NC

#92 in North Carolina
63.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Wilson County, North Carolina

Wilson Ranks Above U.S. Livability Median

Wilson County's composite score of 70.5 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 41%, positioning it firmly in the upper half of American counties. While solid, this score trails several of its regional peers, reflecting moderate rather than exceptional conditions across measured dimensions.

Wilson Slightly Below State Average

At 70.5, Wilson County scores just below North Carolina's state average of 72.7, placing it in the middle tier of the state's counties. This positioning suggests Wilson offers competitive livability on par with many other North Carolina communities.

Affordability and Reasonable Taxes Support Residents

Wilson County's cost score of 77.5 reflects affordable housing with median gross rent at $915 monthly and median home values of $171,800. A tax score of 78.9, backed by an effective rate of 0.831%, provides additional breathing room in household budgets.

Income Levels and Data Gaps Remain Concerns

With an income score of 16.9 and median household income of $51,381, Wilson residents earn below regional and national averages. Safety, health, schools, risk, and water quality data are not yet available, making it difficult to assess the county's performance on these critical livability factors.

A Practical Choice for Budget-Minded Residents

Wilson County appeals to households seeking moderate affordability and low taxes without premium incomes or specialized amenities. It works well for working families, empty nesters, and those relocating for affordability rather than opportunity, though more data would help refine its positioning.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax78.9Cost77.5SafetyComing SoonHealth58.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome16.9Risk23.7WaterComing Soon
🏛78.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠77.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼16.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡23.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Wilson County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Pinal County
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63.5
Median income: $77,588
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Median income: $72,349
Logan County
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Median income: $64,188
Perry County
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63.5
Median income: $59,286
Lyon County
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Median income: $59,078

Deep Dives

Wilson County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Wilson County

via TaxByCounty

Wilson taxes rank below national median

Wilson County's effective tax rate of 0.831% is substantially lower than the national median property tax of $2,690 on a $281,900 home. Residents here pay roughly 47% less annually than the typical U.S. homeowner, placing the county in the bottom half nationally.

Among North Carolina's highest rates

Wilson County's 0.831% effective rate exceeds North Carolina's state average of 0.701%, making it one of the pricier counties in the state for property taxes. The median tax bill of $1,428 runs nearly $1,000 above the national median despite a lower median home value.

Wilson stands out for higher taxes

Wilson County's 0.831% rate is the highest among nearby counties in eastern North Carolina, outpacing Yadkin County's 0.686%, Wilkes County's 0.621%, and even Yancey County's 0.476%. This makes Wilson a notably steeper tax environment regionally.

Your annual Wilson tax bill

On Wilson County's median home value of $171,800, property owners pay approximately $1,428 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, that figure climbs to around $1,677; without one, it averages $1,166.

Appeal could ease your burden

Wilson County homeowners facing above-average tax rates should investigate whether their property assessments are accurate. A free assessment appeal can uncover overvaluations and potentially reduce your annual tax obligation.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Wilson County

via CostByCounty

Wilson's housing costs strain budgets

Wilson County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.4% pushes above the national comfort zone, meaning renters here dedicate significantly more income to housing than the typical American household. At $915/month in median rent against a $51,381 household income, Wilson renters face tighter affordability than peers in stronger economies.

Above-average housing pressure in NC

Wilson County's 21.4% rent-to-income ratio exceeds North Carolina's average of 18.6%, positioning it among the state's less affordable counties for renters. Median rent of $915/month reflects regional cost pressures that outpace typical state housing rates.

Wilson carries the highest rent burden

Wilson County renters pay the highest median rent in this comparison—$915/month—while also facing the steepest rent-to-income ratio at 21.4%. Only Yadkin County approaches Wilson's median home value of $171,800, but with significantly better affordability metrics.

Housing consumes larger income share

Wilson County households allocate $915 monthly for rent or $948 for mortgage payments against a $51,381 annual median income ($4,282/month). Renters dedicate 21.4% of income to housing, while homeowners commit 22.2%—both above the 30% affordability threshold that signals strain.

Wilson: explore alternatives nearby

Wilson County renters and homebuyers facing affordability pressure should compare neighboring Wilkes County (17% rent ratio) and Yadkin County (14.6% rent ratio) for potentially better housing value. With strategic location choices, families in this region can access similar job markets with substantially lower housing costs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Wilson County

via IncomeByCounty

Wilson earns well below U.S. median

Wilson County's median household income of $51,381 falls $23,374 short of the national median of $74,755, reflecting regional economic constraints. This 31% income gap mirrors broader challenges in rural Eastern North Carolina, where manufacturing jobs have declined and wage growth has stalled.

Lower middle tier in North Carolina

Wilson's $51,381 median income sits below the state average of $61,072, placing the county in the lower-middle income bracket statewide. The $9,691 gap underscores that Wilson households have less disposable income than typical North Carolinians, limiting their purchasing power and savings potential.

Modest edge over western counties

Wilson earns slightly more than Wilkes County ($50,438) but less than nearby Yadkin County ($60,321) and Yancey County ($54,961). This middle position reflects Wilson's mix of agricultural and light industrial work, with less diversity than better-performing regional neighbors.

Rental affordability is stretched

Wilson County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.4% is rising toward the affordability threshold of 30%, signaling housing cost pressure for renters. While still manageable, this ratio is notably higher than state and national peers, meaning Wilson renters must dedicate a larger share of pay to housing.

Invest in skills and income growth

Given tight household budgets, Wilson residents should prioritize skill-building through trade certifications or associate degrees to unlock higher-wage jobs. Even modest income gains of $5,000–$10,000 per year can dramatically accelerate savings and wealth accumulation over a decade.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Wilson County

via HealthByCounty

Wilson County faces significant health gap

Wilson County residents live an average of 72.6 years, nearly 6.6 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.2 years. Nearly one in four adults (24.3%) report being in poor or fair health—the highest rate among these four counties—indicating substantial ongoing health challenges and chronic disease burden.

Shortest lifespan in North Carolina group

At 72.6 years, Wilson County's life expectancy ranks 1.8 years below North Carolina's state average of 74.4 years, marking the lowest in this cohort of four counties. The county's uninsured rate of 12.9% sits just slightly above the state average of 12.5%, suggesting broader access barriers beyond insurance alone.

Health disparities clear among peers

Wilson County's life expectancy of 72.6 years lags all three neighboring counties in this analysis, falling 1.4 years below Wilkes County and 3.4 years behind Yancey County. The county does offer 40 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, competitive with its peers, but the higher poor health rate suggests quality-of-care or socioeconomic factors at play.

Access exists, but outcomes lag

Wilson County provides 40 primary care providers and 219 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, offering similar provider availability to comparable rural counties. However, 24.3% of residents reporting poor or fair health and 12.9% lacking insurance suggests that access alone isn't solving the county's health crisis—underlying poverty, chronic disease, and prevention gaps demand urgent attention.

Healthcare starts with coverage

Wilson County residents without insurance can enroll in marketplace plans at healthcare.gov or apply for North Carolina Medicaid to access preventive care and treatment. Local health departments and community health centers offer enrollment help and may offer sliding-scale care regardless of insurance status.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Wilson County

via RiskByCounty

Wilson carries moderate disaster risk overall

Wilson County's composite risk score of 76.27 ranks it as relatively low but still above North Carolina's state average of 66.72. The county's risk profile is driven primarily by hurricane exposure, which significantly outpaces other hazard types in the region.

Wilson ranks in the middle statewide

At 76.27, Wilson County's composite score positions it moderately within North Carolina's disaster risk hierarchy. While not among the state's lowest-risk counties, Wilson faces somewhat higher exposure than half of all North Carolina counties.

Wilson is riskier than rural western neighbors

Wilson County's score of 76.27 far exceeds Yadkin County (38.36) and Yancey County (42.24), but trails the higher-exposure Wilkes County (82.63). This eastern county faces distinct risks compared to its more mountainous western neighbors.

Hurricanes dominate Wilson's risk profile

Wilson County's hurricane risk score of 90.36 stands as the county's most severe hazard exposure—among the highest in the entire state due to eastern North Carolina's coastal vulnerability. Flood risk (77.16) compounds hurricane dangers, while tornado (70.23) and earthquake (67.75) risks remain secondary but notable.

Prioritize flood insurance for hurricane season

Wilson County's extreme hurricane and flood risks demand flood insurance as a critical first step, since standard homeowners policies exclude water damage. With hurricane season bringing frequent storm surge and inland flooding, ensure your policy covers the full replacement value of your home and contents.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.