Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $35,280 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
Homes cost $23k less ($318,600 vs $341,700)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $35,280/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
Buckeye
Median Income
$35,280
$94,188 vs $58,908/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
65% lower
166.8 vs 482.8 per 100k
Buckeye
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$23k less
$318,600 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 10 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 Buckeye to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($94,188 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Wilmington, NC are about 1,986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.