Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($251,300 vs $318,600)
Households earn $12,828 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,297)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Median income trails Arlington by $12,828/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$12,828
$71,736 vs $58,908/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$67k less
$251,300 vs $318,600
Arlington
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Wilmington wins 11. 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 Arlington to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Wilmington, NC are about 1,112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.