Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

New Hanover County, NC

Welcome to New Hanover County.

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New Hanover County has a population of 228.1 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 328.9 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 42%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $17.9 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, New Hanover County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

New Hanover County comprises Wilmington, NC metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Wilmington.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Brunswick County, and Pender County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
44.17%55.04%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
43.78%55.82%+
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
48.82%50.21%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
46.96%51.52%+
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
45.56%49.46%+
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
50.16%48.03%+
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%42%
Government
Enterprises
12%-15%
Private Industries88%52%
Agriculture<1%0%
Mining<1%16%
Utilities2%29%
Construction6%70%
Manufacturing7%-3%
– Durable5%-6%
– Nondurable2%9%
Trade12%53%
– Wholesale4%49%
– Retail8%56%
Transportation2%72%
Information7%47%
Finance & Insurance8%73%
Real Estate15%53%
Professional &
Business Services
13%49%
Educational Services1%37%
Healthcare &
Social Services
8%99%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%50%
Accommodation &
Food Services
4%37%
Other Services22%79%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers4395
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
7597
📺 Electronics & Appliance2392
🛒 Grocery Stores10896
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores2190
⚕️ Health & Personal Care9095
⛽ Gasoline Stations7996
👕 Clothing Stores12896
👠 Shoe Stores1688
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry2189
🏸 Sporting Goods2796
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers990
🏬 Department Stores5397
💐 Florists890
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops3496
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 1895
🍺 Bars & Taverns6197
🍽️ Full-service restaurants32898
🍔 Limited-service restaurants22895
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers31298
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation7197
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%121%$330,900 N/A
Top 20%49%$190,000 $194,400
Next highest 20%23%$89,400 $112,000
Middle 20%15%$57,500 $70,100
Second lowest 20%9%$35,900 $46,700
Bottom 20%4%$13,500 $25,000
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries71%$74,800
Self-Employment8%$46,700
Investment Income114%$23,500
Social Security36%$21,600
Supplemental Security7%$11,000
Public Assistance1%Below $10,000
Retirement25%$26,800
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
3%4%4%6%
$25K
– $49K
2%5%6%6%
$50K
– $99K
2%11%9%9%
$100K
– $199K
1%9%10%5%
$200K
& more
<1%3%5%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$52,600 $37,300
African-American$32,900 $29,900
Hispanic$34,600 $23,500
Asian$57,000 $26,100
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$29,200 $17,900
Highschool & GED$40,400 $32,600
Some College to
Associate’s
$47,700 $34,100
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$68,100 $46,800
Graduate Degree$78,900 $59,500
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$65,600 $46,700
STEM2$71,900 $54,400
Gray-Collar3$65,200 $52,600
Pink-Collar4Below $10,000$13,300
Sales5$38,500 $16,800
Blue-Collar6$36,400 $33,100
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding+$
Cold Waves
Drought+
Earthquake+$
Hail+$
Heat Waves+++$
Hurricane+++$$$$
Ice Storm++$
Landslide+
Lightning+++$
Riverine Flooding+$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires++$
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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