Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($246,000 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,595 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
59% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Albuquerque by $2,595/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$2,595
$61,503 vs $58,908/yr
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$73k less
$246,000 vs $318,600
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Violent Crime
59% lower
482.8 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 11 and Wilmington wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $318,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Wilmington, NC are about 1,630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.