Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Deltona, FL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Deltona
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,074 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
94,373
Wilmington
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Deltona, FL
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($226,800 vs $318,600)
Households earn $10,166 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Longer commutes — 34.4 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,417)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Deltona
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Deltona by $10,166/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Deltona
Median Income
$10,166
$69,074 vs $58,908/yr
Deltona
Median Home Value
$92k less
$226,800 vs $318,600
Deltona
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Deltona, FL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,800 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,074 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.4 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.6% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | VOLUSIA | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.1°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,373 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Deltona's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Deltona wins 10 and Wilmington wins 10. 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 Deltona to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($69,074 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Deltona, FL and Wilmington, NC are about 415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.