💙 We’re Lucky to Call Wilmington Home

Livability just named Wilmington one of the Top 100 Places to Live in the U.S. for 2025 — and we couldn’t agree more.

Author

Jason @ Port City Pulse
April 29, 2025

Good morning Wilmington!

Start your day with this sunrise — and a little hometown pride. Wilmington made Livability’s list of Top 100 Best Places to Live for 2025, and honestly, we’re not surprised.

This morning’s sunrise by Karen

In today’s Port City Pulse:

  • UNCW Graduate Programs Earn National Recognition in 2025 Rankings

  • Wilmington Named One of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.

UNCW Graduate Programs Earn National Recognition in 2025 Rankings

[UNCW] UNCW’s graduate programs continue to shine nationally, earning high marks in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The Master of Healthcare Administration program made its debut at #68, Public Affairs climbed to #121, and Education was ranked at #209. UNCW leaders credit the achievement to the dedication of faculty, staff, and students, and are excited to continue building on this success for future graduate students.

Wilmington Named One of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2025

[Livability] Wilmington has been recognized by Livability as one of the "Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025." The Port City stood out for its affordable coastal living, strong transportation, housing affordability, and quality education. Livability evaluated thousands of U.S. cities based on about 100 data points covering economy, environment, health, and more. Other NC cities like Raleigh, Asheville, and Durham also made the list.

News Roundup

Local News

  • Grammy-winning country artist Maren Morris will perform at Wilmington's Greenfield Lake Amphitheater on September 7. Tickets go on sale this Friday for what’s expected to be a high-demand show. WWAY

  • A new survey reveals widespread dissatisfaction within the Wilmington Police Department, with 93% of respondents saying they wouldn’t recommend it as a workplace. The survey, conducted by the NC Police Benevolent Association, highlighted low morale, poor working conditions, and concerns about leadership, staffing, and benefits. WECT

What You Should Know

  • Former Congressman George Santos has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and corruption charges. Santos, once a rising star, now faces a steep fall from grace. NBC News

  • French Prime Minister François Bayrou is facing a growing scandal tied to decades of abuse at a Catholic school in his home region, with more than 200 alleged victims speaking out about physical and sexual abuse. France24

  • Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar introduced seven long-shot articles of impeachment against Trump for how he's dealt with immigration. Twitter/X

  • Luigi Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Howard Brill. Prosecutors allege the killing was premeditated and connected to a broader insurance fraud scheme. WWAY

Don’t Miss

Build Your Own AI

Today: 7-8Pm @ Cape Fear Makers Guild - DT
Want to build your own AI? We’ll explore how to run and fine-tune large language models on your own hardware. Learn about open-source tools, optimization tricks, and practical use cases—no cloud required! $15

Sip N Stitch

WED APR 30: 6Pm @ Frey’s Haus - SHL
Enjoy an evening of sipping and stitching. People of all skill levels coming together for the love of the craft.

Grand Opening Celebration: Oden Brewing Co.

FRI MAY 2: Noon @ 116 Dock St - DT
We’re ~officially~ opening our doors in the Port City, and you’re invited to celebrate with us!

Join us on Friday, May 2 for the grand opening of Oden Brewing Wilmington

Cinco De Mayo Party

SAT MAY 3: 1-4Pm @ Flytrap Brewing - ILM
Cinco de Mayo falls on a Monday this year so we decided we’re going to celebrate a couple of days early and we have an awesome lineup you’re not going to want to miss. Join us on Saturday, May 3rd for live Latin music from Trio Romanze (1-4), authentic, delicious dishes from Birrieria La Rosita (1-4), and $5 pours of our clean, crisp, & perfectly balanced Mexican Cerveza (all day).

Weather Forecast

Tue Apr 29: ☀️ Sunny | 75° / 63° | 2% | SSE 12 mph
Wed Apr 30: 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 80° / 65° | 7% | SW 16 mph
Thu May 01: ⛅️ Partly Cloudy | 78° / 68° | 6% | SW 15 mph

Live Music

Tuesday

It’s not just the rankings — it’s the little things that make this place home. Thanks for being part of a community worth celebrating.

-Jason