Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($212,500 vs $318,600)
10% less violent crime than Wilmington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Households earn $4,086 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
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 Columbus by $4,086/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Income
$4,086
$62,994 vs $58,908/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
10% lower
434.9 vs 482.8 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$106k less
$212,500 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($62,994 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Wilmington, NC are about 488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.