Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
9
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $66,409 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Wilmington
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($318,600 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $66,409/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$66,409
$125,317 vs $58,908/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
85% lower
71.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$159k less
$318,600 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Cary wins 14 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 Cary to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $318,600 median home), income ($125,317 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Wilmington, NC are about 121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.