This data is based on ZIP codes 28403, 28480, which covers Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington.
The U.S. Census reports business data by ZIP code, not city boundaries. All numbers reflect the combined ZIP codes 28403, 28480 area shared across these towns.
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Wrightsville Beach ZIP Area Economy · 2023
Wages -10% vs. avg. New Hanover Co. town
Wrightsville Beach's ZIP area supports 34,295 jobs across 2,554 businesses, with workers earning an average of $50K per year, 10% below the New Hanover County average. The economy is well-diversified (0.86 index), led by retail trade and professional services. 84.1% of businesses have fewer than 20 employees, and each business employs an average of 13.4 people. Jobs grew 5.9% from the prior year while business count grew 2.4%.
Where Businesses Clusteri
Larger blocks have more businesses.
Local Specialization vs. New Hanover Avg.i
Industries sorted by relative concentration in this ZIP area.
Business Size Distributioni
2,554 businesses by employee count. 84.1% are small businesses (under 20 employees).
Medium (50-99)
Large (100-249)
Major (250-499)
Major (500-999)
Micro (<5)
Small (5-9)
Small (10-19)
Medium (20-49)
Economic Densityi
2.00+
jobs per resident
Capped: ZIP includes employers outside city limits
13.4
employees per business
County avg: 13.6-1%
$644K
payroll per resident
$675K
payroll per business
Wrightsville Beach ZIP Area vs. Avg. New Hanover Co. Towni
All Industries in ZIP Areai
| Sector | Wrightsville Beach ZIP | Avg. New Hanover Co. | Spec. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 409 | 382 | 1.1x |
| Professional Services | 337 | 354 | 1.0x |
| Healthcare | 332 | 310 | 1.1x |
| Food & Accommodation | 260 | 280 | 1.0x |
| Real Estate | 208 | 228 | 1.0x |
| Other Services | 206 | 234 | 0.9x |
| Finance & Insurance | 203 | 169 | 1.3x |
| Construction | 170 | 276 | 0.7x |
| Admin Services | 112 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Wholesale Trade | 63 | 103 | 0.7x |
| Arts & Entertainment | 45 | 56 | 0.9x |
| Information | 41 | 42 | 1.0x |
| Manufacturing | 32 | 56 | 0.6x |
| Education | 32 | 34 | 1.0x |
| Transportation | 23 | 44 | 0.6x |
| Management | 10 | 12 | 0.9x |
| Utilities | 4 | 3 | 1.4x |