Clear Estimates Research ·
The limits of cost per square foot: what it really costs to build a house in every U.S. ZIP code
- Cost to build the Cape Cod
- $493,700
- Median market: $528,300
- Cost to build the economy ranch
- $219,100
- Median market: $234,000
- Cost to build the brick colonial
- $1,178,800
- Median market: $1,260,000
- Cape Cod, dollars per square foot
- 206
- Median market: 220
Cost to build the Cape Cod in Wilmington: $493,700, against $528,300 in the median market. Lower than in 258 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Cost to build the economy ranch in Wilmington: $219,100, against $234,000 in the median market. Lower than in 256 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Cost to build the brick colonial in Wilmington: $1,178,800, against $1,260,000 in the median market. Lower than in 274 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Cape Cod, dollars per square foot in Wilmington: 206, against 220 in the median market. Lower than in 251 of the 349 markets, and the 2nd highest of the 7 North Carolina markets.
Modeled cost to build a 1,200 sq ft economy ranch, a 2,400 sq ft mid-grade Cape Cod and a 4,000 sq ft premium brick colonial, median across the market's ZIP codes. Land not included.
Source: Clear Estimates pricing data, modeled project costs, October 2026.