Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 16 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $36,823 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
52% less violent crime than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 21°F
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,405)
Homes cost $45k less ($318,600 vs $363,800)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $36,823/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$36,823
$95,731 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
52% lower
482.8 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$45k less
$318,600 vs $363,800
Wilmington
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 16 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 7 and Wilmington wins 16. 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 Anchorage to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($95,731 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Wilmington, NC are about 3,572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.