Population 2,631 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carolina Heights
Household size in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.32 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.34 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.74 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.45 | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Carolina Heights are small: just 1.74 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.19, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.3 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.0 | 40.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.2 | +3.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Carolina Heights is 42.5 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.4% | 10.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 9.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 8.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Carolina Heights (12.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Wilmington as a whole (8.1%).
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carolina Heights
Renters in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.2% | 42.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 62.3% | 47.0% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 62.7% | 46.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 55.8% | 44.0% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Carolina Heights: 55.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 37.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 12.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 11.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.5% | 10.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Carolina Heights: 18.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1984 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1985 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1990 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Carolina Heights is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $611 | $919 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $830 | $1,044 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $827 | $1,135 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,051 | $1,528 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$439 | +$609 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Carolina Heights costs $1,051 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 43.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carolina Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 37.0% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.1% | 37.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 41.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.6% | 45.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.3 pts | +8.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Carolina Heights than nationally: 28.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.1% | 89.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.8% | 90.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.2% | 93.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.0% | 94.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +16.9 pts | +5.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Carolina Heights never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carolina Heights
| Period | Carolina Heights | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 7.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 10.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −15.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Carolina Heights has been low: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carolina Heights compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Heights | 1.74 | 42.5 | 12.2% | 55.8% | 18.4% | 1971 | $1,051 | 28.6% | 80.0% | 2.5% |
| South Side | 1.85 | 42.7 | 10.3% | 63.0% | 19.9% | 1951 | $1,164 | 31.4% | 90.5% | 5.7% |
| College Park | 1.80 | 30.8 | 11.0% | 90.9% | 16.5% | 1991 | $1,242 | 31.1% | 90.5% | 2.4% |
| Wrightsboro | 2.45 | 37.5 | 9.0% | 26.8% | 9.5% | 1982 | $971 | 23.0% | 84.6% | 5.9% |
| Silver Lake | 2.08 | 40.8 | 9.8% | 43.3% | 6.8% | 2003 | $1,469 | 46.9% | 94.9% | 4.5% |
| Landfall | 2.13 | 52.2 | 4.5% | 26.3% | 4.5% | 2003 | $2,336 | 74.2% | 99.7% | 2.5% |
| Bayshore | 2.24 | 41.6 | 6.8% | 25.0% | 14.4% | 2005 | $1,809 | 58.1% | 98.3% | 1.5% |
| Downtown Columbia | 1.76 | 20.2 | 4.6% | 89.0% | 19.8% | 1995 | $1,436 | 53.8% | 88.7% | 8.8% |
| The Congaree Vista | 1.66 | 23.3 | 4.9% | 80.4% | 20.0% | 1998 | $1,467 | 65.8% | 94.0% | 6.7% |
| Three Points | 2.35 | 33.9 | 18.7% | 48.9% | 21.0% | 1962 | $1,228 | 45.7% | 88.6% | 12.2% |
| Broadacres Homes | 1.98 | 31.5 | 11.9% | 72.9% | 10.2% | 1966 | $1,307 | 53.5% | 93.2% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Norton Commons, Prospect, KY · Urbanizacion El Valle At Los Prados, Caguas, PR · Salisbury Point, Amesbury Town, MA · Rothfield, Semmes, AL · Mount Pleasant Area, Mount Pleasant, NC · White Gables, Summerville, SC · Talus, Issaquah, WA · Rising Sun-Lebanon, Magnolia, DE · Downtown Michigan City, Michigan City, IN · Hainesville, Martinsburg, WV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carolina Heights. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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