NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Wilmington, NC

Metro Market Score 41.9 (Moderate), ranked #161 of 330 metros. 1,165 establishments, 4,415 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 41.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

🏭Industry Hub📈Rapid Growth

Wilmington is a specialized hub for real estate and rental and leasing, with a location quotient of 1.53 and industry concentration in the upper half. Higher-than-average firm density means more competition for talent and customers, but also a deeper local supply chain and client pool.

Industry Concentration
96.1
LQ: 1.53
Rank #317 of 330 metros
Wage Competitiveness
60.6
$58,166 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 98.8
Employment growth index
Rank #5 of 330 metros
Wage Pressure
12.0
YoY wage change index

1,165 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Firms in Wilmington

1,165
Establishments
+31.9% YoY
4,415
Total Employment
+23.8% YoY
$58,166
Average Annual Wage
-0.2% YoY
1.53
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Wilmington vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #23/51 for entry risk.

Measure Wilmington NC Statewide
Overall Score 41.9 Moderate 38.1 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #161 of 330 metros #23 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Wilmington

Construction 35.6 Other Services 38.6 Finance and Insurance 39.7 Healthcare and Social Assistance 40.0 Retail Trade 42.4 Accommodation and Food Services 50.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 61.5

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Other North Carolina Metros

Goldsboro 29.8 #66/330 Burlington 31.2 #76/330 Rocky Mount 33.1 #86/330 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 38.4 #120/330 Winston-Salem 39.9 #135/330 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 40.1 #137/330 Durham-Chapel Hill 40.8 #149/330 Greenville 47.9 #201/330 Fayetteville 52.5 #235/330 Jacksonville 53.0 #239/330

+ 4 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Wilmington's real estate and rental and leasing sector, the industry concentration component (96.1) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.