Side-by-side comparison of Wilmington, NC and Charlotte, NC — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Wilmington has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.54% compared to Charlotte's 3.41%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $340,000 in Wilmington vs $350,000 in Charlotte, while rents come in at $1,520/mo and $1,550/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Charlotte is growing faster at 2.3% annually vs Wilmington's 1.8%. Charlotte leads on home value appreciation at 3.9% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.76% in Wilmington vs 0.83% in Charlotte. Vacancy rates of 5% and 5.1% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Wilmington edges out Charlotte on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.54%, Wilmington's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Wilmington or Charlotte.