Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,808 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $962k less ($318,600 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,067)
24% less violent crime than Berkeley
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $45,808/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
Berkeley
Median Income
$45,808
$104,716 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
24% lower
482.8 vs 638.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$962k less
$318,600 vs $1,280,300
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Wilmington wins 14. 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 Berkeley to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($104,716 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.