Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 22 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $18,747 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
43% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $299/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,512)
Homes cost $77k less ($318,600 vs $395,600)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.9%)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $18,747/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$18,747
$77,655 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
43% lower
482.8 vs 840.6 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$77k less
$318,600 vs $395,600
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 22 categories. Atlanta wins 9 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 Atlanta to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($77,655 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Wilmington, NC are about 376 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.