Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
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.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($141,900 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Median income trails Wilmington by $8,416/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,416 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$177k less
$141,900 vs $318,600
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Median Income
$8,416
$58,908 vs $50,492/yr
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Wilmington wins 9. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($50,492 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Wilmington, NC are about 247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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