Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $54,271 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($318,600 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $770/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $54,271/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$54,271
$113,179 vs $58,908/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
55% lower
219.1 vs 482.8 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$337k less
$318,600 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Wilmington wins 10. 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 Alexandria to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($113,179 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Wilmington, NC are about 322 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.