Advertising on Billboards In Wilmington, NC
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About Wilmington A port city with a beautifully revitalized downtown, Wilmington, North Carolina, features a gorgeous waterfront and equally breathtaking beaches. It’s one of the eight biggest cities in the state, more recently serving as a popular shooting location for movies and TV shows, including Amazon’s current hit “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” A recent startup boom has drawn young workers to the area, prompting one California company to rate Wilmington as a top-10 most underrated tech city.
Are you interested in billboard advertising in Wilmington, North Carolina? We’ve put together a guide covering everything from what inventory is available for outdoor advertisements to billboard costs to where to advertise.
A port city with a beautifully revitalized downtown, Wilmington, North Carolina, features a gorgeous waterfront and equally breathtaking beaches. It’s one of the eight biggest cities in the state, more recently serving as a popular shooting location for movies and TV shows, including Amazon’s current hit “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” A recent startup boom has drawn young workers to the area, prompting one California company to rate Wilmington as a top-10 most underrated tech city.
Are you interested in billboard advertising in Wilmington, North Carolina? We’ve put together a guide covering everything from what inventory is available for outdoor advertisements to billboard costs to where to advertise.
Data for Billboard Advertisers in Wilmington, NC Wilmington has a population of 117,000 as of the most recent 2021 data, marking significant growth from just 75,000 in 2000. The city is home to a well-educated population—over 40% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, exceeding the national average of 33%. However, median household income trails the U.S. average of $71,000 by nearly $17,000, indicating that Wilmington is not considered a high-income market.
With just 65 billboards, Wilmington has a smaller outdoor advertising footprint compared to larger North Carolina cities like Raleigh (75 billboards) and the Greensboro/High Point region (135 billboards).
Here’s a complete demographic breakdown of the Wilmington DMA to help guide your advertising strategy.
Wilmington has a population of 117,000 as of the most recent 2021 data, marking significant growth from just 75,000 in 2000. The city is home to a well-educated population—over 40% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, exceeding the national average of 33%. However, median household income trails the U.S. average of $71,000 by nearly $17,000, indicating that Wilmington is not considered a high-income market.
With just 65 billboards, Wilmington has a smaller outdoor advertising footprint compared to larger North Carolina cities like Raleigh (75 billboards) and the Greensboro/High Point region (135 billboards).
Here’s a complete demographic breakdown of the Wilmington DMA to help guide your advertising strategy.
Wilmington, NCPopulation: 117,000
46%
54%
Veterans
5,725% who speak a non - English language at home
7.8 %billboards
65Median Household
income
$ 54,066 High school graduates
93 %hold at least
a bachelor’s degree
43.6 % Persons per household
2.1foreign-born
residents
5% Wilmington has four main types of billboards
available for out of home advertising. Digital
You can purchase both digital bulletins and digital posters in Wilmington. These are the same dimensions as static billboards, but they have digital creative that can be swapped out easily.
Dimensions + Bulletins measure 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall.
posters
Posters are the next most common size of billboards. They’re smaller than bulletins and are often referred to as 30 sheets. You’ll see them in downtown Wilmington or on South College Road near the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Dimensions + Posters measure 24 feet, 6 inches wide x 12 feet tall.
bulletins
When most people talk about billboards, they’re referring to bulletins. These are the biggest billboards available, and you see them in heavy traffic areas, like along Carolina Beach Road or highways such as I-40. The vast majority of Wilmington bulletins are permanent and stay in the
same location for the length of the buy.
Dimensions + Bulletins measure 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall.
Digital
You can purchase both digital bulletins and digital posters in Wilmington. These are the same dimensions as static billboards, but they have digital creative that can be swapped out easily.
Bulletins measure 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall.
posters
Posters are the next most common size of billboards. They’re smaller than bulletins and are often referred to as 30 sheets. You’ll see them in downtown Wilmington or on South College Road near the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Posters measure 24 feet, 6 inches wide x 12 feet tall.
bulletins
When most people talk about billboards, they’re referring to bulletins. These are the biggest billboards available, and you see them in heavy traffic areas, like along Carolina Beach Road or highways such as I-40. The vast majority of Wilmington bulletins are permanent and stay in the
same location for the length of the buy.
Bulletins measure 48 feet wide x 14 feet tall.
Best Places in Wilmington to Advertise on a Billboard Based on our experience, here are some of the best places to find bulletin, poster and digital billboard inventory in Wilmington.
South College Road near
UNC-W and around campus
This market offers strong access to a Gen Z audience, thanks in part to the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNC-W), which enrolls approximately 14,000 students. It’s an ideal location for campaigns targeting college-age consumers—making it especially effective for mobile and tech brands, entertainment marketing, music promotions, and socially driven nonprofit messaging.
Interstate 140, US 74,
NC 132 and NC 133
These higher-traffic roads in and around the city are ideal for fast food brands, grocery stores, movies and entertainment, jewelers, attorneys and political advertising.
Downtown Wilmington
You can find digital billboards downtown that deliver timely messages to an engaged audience. Cape Fear Community College has its main campus downtown, drawing thousands of students, and thousands of people work downtown in the high-rise buildings. Best categories include tech, luxury brands, jewelers, attorneys, music and mobile.
Riverwalk area downtown
While outdoor advertising opportunities on the Riverwalk are fewer and farther between, you can find opportunities near where people park to walk down to the popular restaurant and shopping area. The location is best for luxury brands, record labels, fashion brands, tech companies and others that want to connect with a young, hip audience.
Interstate I-40
The interstate that connects Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh ends in Wilmington, and much of the area’s incoming tourist traffic flows down I-40. Best categories include family-focused brands, entertainment, hotels, restaurants and music.
US 421
The road heading south to Carolina Beach has lots of inventory and works best for brands hoping to reach families and tourists, such as fast food restaurants, local entertainment destinations and mobile brands.
US 17
Families heading toward Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park located off the route pass many billboards on US 17, which also goes by Cape Fear Country Club and New Hanover County Arboretum. The best categories for these include family-friendly things such as grocery stores, fast food restaurants, arts and entertainment, film, TV shows and music.
Based on our experience, here are some of the best places to find bulletin, poster and digital billboard inventory in Wilmington.
South College Road near
UNC-W and around campus
This market offers strong access to a Gen Z audience, thanks in part to the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNC-W), which enrolls approximately 14,000 students. It’s an ideal location for campaigns targeting college-age consumers—making it especially effective for mobile and tech brands, entertainment marketing, music promotions, and socially driven nonprofit messaging.
Interstate 140, US 74,
NC 132 and NC 133
These higher-traffic roads in and around the city are ideal for fast food brands, grocery stores, movies and entertainment, jewelers, attorneys and political advertising.
Downtown Wilmington
You can find digital billboards downtown that deliver timely messages to an engaged audience. Cape Fear Community College has its main campus downtown, drawing thousands of students, and thousands of people work downtown in the high-rise buildings. Best categories include tech, luxury brands, jewelers, attorneys, music and mobile.
Riverwalk area downtown
While outdoor advertising opportunities on the Riverwalk are fewer and farther between, you can find opportunities near where people park to walk down to the popular restaurant and shopping area. The location is best for luxury brands, record labels, fashion brands, tech companies and others that want to connect with a young, hip audience.
Interstate I-40
The interstate that connects Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh ends in Wilmington, and much of the area’s incoming tourist traffic flows down I-40. Best categories include family-focused brands, entertainment, hotels, restaurants and music.
US 421
The road heading south to Carolina Beach has lots of inventory and works best for brands hoping to reach families and tourists, such as fast food restaurants, local entertainment destinations and mobile brands.
US 17
Families heading toward Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park located off the route pass many billboards on US 17, which also goes by Cape Fear Country Club and New Hanover County Arboretum. The best categories for these include family-friendly things such as grocery stores, fast food restaurants, arts and entertainment, film, TV shows and music.
Cost of a Billboard in Wilmington In Wilmington, the most desirable billboard locations—those with strong lighting, high visibility, and no obstructions from the road—tend to command higher rates. However, overall pricing remains relatively reasonable compared to other markets. Billboard costs in Wilmington are typically lower than in Raleigh, but slightly higher than those in the Greensboro area, offering a balanced value for advertisers seeking reach without breaking the budget.
The Cheapest Billboards in Wilmington
Poster - four weeks: · $600 to $700
Digital bulletin - four weeks: $2,400 to $2,600 (more if your ad runs more than once every two minutes)
The Most Expensive Billboards in Wilmington
Bulletin - four weeks: $1,800 to $2,000
Digital bulletin - four weeks: $2,400 to $2,600 (more if your ad runs more than once every two minutes)
In Wilmington, the most desirable billboard locations—those with strong lighting, high visibility, and no obstructions from the road—tend to command higher rates. However, overall pricing remains relatively reasonable compared to other markets. Billboard costs in Wilmington are typically lower than in Raleigh, but slightly higher than those in the Greensboro area, offering a balanced value for advertisers seeking reach without breaking the budget.
The Cheapest Billboards in Wilmington
Poster - four weeks: · $600 to $700
Digital bulletin - four weeks: $2,400 to $2,600 (more if your ad runs more than once every two minutes)
The Most Expensive Billboards in Wilmington
Bulletin - four weeks: $1,800 to $2,000
Digital bulletin - four weeks: $2,400 to $2,600 (more if your ad runs more than once every two minutes)
Wilmington Billboard Creative Examples 
Thinking About Advertising in Wilmington? Ready to launch a campaign in Wilmington? We can help you reach your ideal audience with access to the most sought-after billboard inventory in the region. Whether you need a fast turnaround or a high-impact location, our team is equipped to get your message in front of North Carolinians—quickly and effectively. Contact us today to explore availability and start planning your campaign.
Contact us 
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Ready to launch a campaign in Wilmington? We can help you reach your ideal audience with access to the most sought-after billboard inventory in the region. Whether you need a fast turnaround or a high-impact location, our team is equipped to get your message in front of North Carolinians—quickly and effectively. Contact us today to explore availability and start planning your campaign.