Population 9,961 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Side
Household size in South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.15 | 2.32 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.10 | 2.34 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.35 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.85 | 2.22 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.30 | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
South Side is a place of small households, averaging 1.85 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.15 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.5 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.4 | 40.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 40.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.2 | +3.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of South Side is 42.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.5, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the north.
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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 10.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.3% | 9.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 8.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −10.3 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in South Side (10.3%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Even so, single parents are more common here than in Wilmington as a whole (8.1%). The single-parent share is down 10.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 South Side
Renters in South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.5% | 42.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 71.0% | 47.0% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 68.5% | 46.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 63.0% | 44.0% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in South Side: 63.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 38.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the north. The renter share is down 5.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 12.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 11.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 10.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.9% of the housing in South Side, 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. Vacancy has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1984 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1945 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1947 | 1985 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1951 | 1990 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in South Side is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1951, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $645 | $919 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $736 | $1,044 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $807 | $1,135 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,164 | $1,528 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$520 | +$609 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Side costs $1,164 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $520 a month from 2006–10, an 81% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 38.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the south.
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 South Side
Bachelor's degrees in South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 37.0% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.7% | 37.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.0% | 41.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.4% | 45.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.9 pts | +8.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in South Side than nationally: 31.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 14.9 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.9% | 89.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.0% | 90.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.2% | 93.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 94.4% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +5.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in South Side is close to the national rate: 90.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Wilmington as a whole (94.4%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 12.6 points, as it has 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 South Side
| Period | South Side | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 7.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 10.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Side is close to the national rate: 5.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Wilmington overall (4.6%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 6.8 points, as it has nationally.
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).
South Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Side | 1.85 | 42.7 | 10.3% | 63.0% | 19.9% | 1951 | $1,164 | 31.4% | 90.5% | 5.7% |
| Carolina Heights | 1.74 | 42.5 | 12.2% | 55.8% | 18.4% | 1971 | $1,051 | 28.6% | 80.0% | 2.5% |
| 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: Boyd Acres, Bend, OR · South Side, Scranton, PA · Highland Garden, Hollywood, FL · Five Points, Raleigh, NC · Faneuil, Brighton, MA · East Rock, New Haven, CT · East Houston, Houston, TX · Downtown Pittsfield, Ann Arbor, MI · Downtown Pasadena, Pasadena, TX · Downtown St. Paul, St. Paul, MN
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 South Side. 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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