Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ 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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $12,765 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.9%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.9%)
11% less violent crime than Chicago
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Rent averages $101/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,314)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chicago by $12,765/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$12,765
$71,673 vs $58,908/yr
Chicago
Median Home Value
$14k less
$304,500 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
11% lower
482.8 vs 539.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago 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 Chicago to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($71,673 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Wilmington, NC are about 749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.