Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ 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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $78,479 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Wilmington
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (2.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wilmington
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $515k less ($318,600 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $1014/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,227)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $78,479/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 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$78,479
$137,387 vs $58,908/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
47% lower
254.4 vs 482.8 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$515k less
$318,600 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington'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, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington 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 Arlington to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Wilmington, NC are about 326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.