Wilson Home Prices: $204K, Up 0.6% — 3 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)

$204,435. That’s what a typical home costs in Wilson, NC right now. Prices ticked up 0.6% over the last year — barely moving while bigger North Carolina cities posted gains north of 7%.

Quick answer: The average home price in Wilson, NC is $204,435 as of February 2026, up 0.6% year over year according to Zillow.

Current Home Prices in Wilson

The Wilson market is quiet. Values have moved less than $1,300 in either direction across most of the past year, settling at $204,435 for February 2026.

The spread between Wilson’s cheapest and priciest ZIPs is wide — about 70%. That gap matters more here than the citywide median, because where you buy decides whether your mortgage starts with a 1 or a 2.

For context, the typical Wilson home is roughly half the price of one in Raleigh and well below the state averages reported in larger metros. You won’t find Wilson in any “hot market” lists. The numbers show why: it’s not heating, it’s not cooling, it’s just sitting.

That stability has tradeoffs. Sellers haven’t gained much equity over the past year. Buyers haven’t been priced out either. If you’ve been waiting for a dip, you’ve been waiting in vain — but the urgency to buy now isn’t there either.

Wilson Home Prices by Neighborhood

Three ZIPs cover the city, and the range between them tells you almost everything about Wilson’s housing market.

Most Expensive

• 27896 — $278,744. This is the only Wilson ZIP above the citywide median, and it sits 36% over it. Rents follow the same pattern at $1,763 a month, the highest in the city.
• 27893 — $170,264. The middle option, though closer to the floor than the ceiling. Rent here averages $1,301.
• 27813 — $164,296. Technically the third spot too, since Wilson only has three ZIPs.

Most Affordable

• 27813 — $164,296. The cheapest entry in the city, 20% below the citywide median. No rent data is available for this ZIP.
• 27893 — $170,264. Just $5,968 above the floor. Rent at $1,301 is among the lower figures in the broader area.
• 27896 — $278,744. Listed here only because Wilson tracks three ZIPs total — but at this price, it’s the upper end, not affordable territory.

Rent vs Buy in Wilson

Average rent across the two ZIPs with rent data lands at about $1,532 per month. Now compare that to a mortgage on the median home.

At $204,435 with 20% down, you’re financing $163,548. At a 7% rate over 30 years, principal and interest run roughly $1,088 a month. Add property tax (North Carolina averages about 0.7% of value, or roughly $119/month) and homeowner’s insurance (~$100/month), and the all-in monthly cost lands near $1,310.

That’s about $222 a month less than the average rent. Over a year, that’s $2,664 — enough to matter, though not enough to sprint to the closing table on its own.

The math shifts depending on the ZIP. Rent in 27896 averages $1,763, while a mortgage on a $278,744 home in that same ZIP would run roughly $1,780 monthly with the same assumptions. Nearly a wash. In 27893, rent at $1,301 sits below the cost of buying the median home there, making renting the cheaper option in the short term.

If you have the down payment and plan to stay more than five years, the citywide numbers favor owning. Below that, renting holds up.

Population Growth and Migration

Wilson is barely growing. The population went from 48,461 in 2020 to 48,579 in 2024 — a 0.2% gain over four years.

The city dipped in 2021 and 2022 before recovering. Net change since 2020: 118 people.

Compare that to other North Carolina cities:

Every comparison city grew at least 7%. Wilson didn’t crack 1%. That’s the missing ingredient behind the flat home prices — without inbound demand, there’s no upward pressure on values. It also means inventory rarely gets crushed by waves of new buyers, which is part of why Wilson stays affordable.

For housing demand, slow population growth typically means stable but unspectacular price appreciation. Wilson fits the pattern.

Wilson Housing Market Trends

The 12-month picture shows almost no movement.

The low point came in June 2025 at $201,227. Values climbed about $3,600 from there to peak at $204,829 in October 2025. Since then, prices have drifted down by roughly $400.

It’s the kind of chart where you have to squint to see anything happening. No crash. No boom. The total swing from low to high across the entire year was $3,602 — under 2% of the median.

Is Wilson a Good Place to Buy in 2026?

The data points to a balanced market with a slight lean toward buyers. Year-over-year price growth at 0.6% trails inflation, which means real prices are falling. That’s good news if you’re shopping.

The most recent four months show small declines — $204,829 in October to $204,435 in February. That’s only a $394 drop, but the direction matters. Sellers don’t have momentum.

Population isn’t pushing prices up either. With 0.2% growth over four years, Wilson lacks the demand surge that’s lifted Raleigh and Charlotte by 7%+ over the same period.

For buyers: there’s no rush, and you have negotiating room. For sellers: pricing aggressively can backfire — buyers can wait you out.

Wilson Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027

The 3-month trend suggests prices are softening. October’s $204,829 to February’s $204,435 is a slow decline, not a sharp drop. If the current pace continues, Wilson could finish 2026 within a few hundred dollars of where it started — possibly slightly lower.

Population growth at 0.2% over four years isn’t going to flip the script. Without faster demand, big price gains are unlikely in the next 6 to 12 months.

The wider story: Wilson’s been remarkably stable. The full 12-month range was just over $3,600. Expect that pattern to hold barring a sharp change in mortgage rates or local employment.

If you’re a buyer waiting for prices to fall further, the data offers some hope but not much room. The floor in this cycle was $201,227 — about 1.6% below today.

Similar Markets in NC

If Wilson’s price point fits your budget but you want different options, North Carolina has plenty of comparison points:

• Fayetteville — A larger city with a similar affordability profile to Wilson.
• Greensboro — Mid-sized market for buyers wanting more inventory than Wilson offers.
• Winston-Salem — Another affordable triad city worth comparing.
• High Point — Smaller market with similar price levels to Wilson.
• Durham — A higher-priced alternative if Wilson buyers want stronger growth and population momentum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home price in Wilson?

The average home price in Wilson, NC is $204,435 as of February 2026. The figure is based on the Zillow Home Value Index across three Wilson ZIP codes: 27813, 27893, and 27896.

Are home prices going up or down in Wilson?

Prices are up 0.6% year over year. That’s well below inflation, which means homes are getting cheaper in real terms. The four-month trend through February 2026 actually shows a small decline of about $400.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wilson?

Buying is slightly cheaper at the citywide level. The estimated all-in monthly cost on a median home runs about $1,310 with 20% down and a 7% mortgage rate, while average rent across Wilson ZIPs is closer to $1,532. The math flips in ZIP 27893, where renting at $1,301 beats the monthly cost of buying.

What is the most affordable neighborhood in Wilson?

ZIP 27813 has the lowest median home value at $164,296, about 20% under the citywide median. ZIP 27893 is the next cheapest at $170,264. ZIP 27896 stands well above both at $278,744.

Methodology

Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.