The county seat and only major city is Wilmington, with a population of about 120,000. Wilmington dominates the county and serves as the economic, cultural, and port hub for the entire Cape Fear region.

Other key communities include the beach towns of Wrightsville Beach (about 2,500 residents), Carolina Beach (about 6,500), and Kure Beach (about 2,200). These barrier island towns are popular tourist destinations with residential neighborhoods. The unincorporated area of Murraysville and the northern part of the county also have significant suburban growth.

The total population of New Hanover County is approximately 230,000. Most residents live in Wilmington or the growing suburban areas around it, with the beach communities adding a strong coastal and tourist character. It’s one of the more urban and densely populated counties on the North Carolina coast.