Key forward Wright, who missed four games through suspension earlier this season, grabbed his highest tally of the year so far in the Bombers' 16.10 (106) to 10.6 (66) victory at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
With Essendon (7-2-1) sitting six points behind leaders Sydney, it is the first time they have finished a round in the top-two this far into a season since 2013.
Brad Scott's side will start heavy favourites to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when they take on injury-hit Richmond in the annual 'Dreamtime' clash on Saturday night.
Essendon's leading goal-kicker Kyle Langford was kept quiet by North Melbourne defender Aidan Corr, slotting his only major in the dying stages, but Wright and Matt Guelfi picked up the slack.
Guelfi marked his 100th game with three goals and Jake Stringer added two from 15 disposals.
Wright could have had half a dozen but missed two simple set shots in the final quarter.
Jye Caldwell (25 disposals, nine clearances), Nic Martin (27 touches), Archie Perkins (22) and Zach Merrett (21) all had a say for the Bombers.
Harry Sheezel (32 touches) and Zac Fisher (31) won plenty of ball as Luke Davies-Uniacke (27 disposals, seven clearances) and Tom Powell (26, nine) worked hard in the midfield for North Melbourne, who were clear winners in the clearance tally (41-29).
They were well behind in the inside-50 count (64-40), however, and were not in the contest after halftime.
Davies-Uniacke was the Kangaroos' only multiple goal-kicker, with two.
Essendon suffered an early blow when prolific midfielder Darcy Parish was a late withdrawal with calf tightness.
After a sluggish start, the Bombers held a 4.2 to 2.2 lead at quarter-time and made a move during the second term, breaking 24 points clear.
North hit back with the last three goals of the first half and closed to within seven points when Zane Duursma nailed a set shot on the siren.
It was as close as they would get, with Stringer and Wright kicking two each of Essendon's eight third-quarter goals that broke the game open.
The lead ballooned to 45 points by the final change before the Kangaroos saved face by winning the last quarter.
North Melbourne (0-10) remain last on the ladder after an 11th straight loss to Essendon in a barren run that spans seven seasons.
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