Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Wilson, NC
The median monthly rent in Wilson, NC is $1,380, translating to $16,560 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.63% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in Wilson spend approximately 28% of the local median household income ($58,267) on rent. This is within the healthy 25-30% range, indicating rent is affordable relative to local incomes. There may be room for moderate rent increases, especially for updated or well-located units.
The vacancy rate in Wilson is 5.3%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 1.5% annually is actively adding rental demand.
Wilson's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 13.3x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $1,380/mo, a single-family rental in Wilson generates approximately $16,560 in gross annual income. After accounting for 5.3% vacancy ($878 lost), property taxes of $1,716, insurance (~$880), and maintenance (~$880), the estimated NOI is $12,206 per year, or $1,017/mo.
Wilson vs North Carolina state average and national average across key investment metrics. Wilson outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.