Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Columbia leads 17 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
28% less violent crime than Wilmington
Homes cost $70k less ($248,600 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($997 vs $1,213)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$1,547
$60,455 vs $58,908/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
28% lower
347.5 vs 482.8 per 100k
Columbia
Median Home Value
$70k less
$248,600 vs $318,600
Columbia
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 17 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 17 and Wilmington wins 6. 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 Columbia to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($60,455 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Wilmington, NC are about 864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.