Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Chico
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chico, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,024 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
31% less violent crime than Chico
Homes cost $109k less ($318,600 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,360)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
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
Median income trails Chico by $7,024/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$7,024
$65,932 vs $58,908/yr
Chico
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
31% lower
482.8 vs 699.2 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$109k less
$318,600 vs $427,600
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Chico 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 Chico to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($65,932 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.