Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,328 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($318,600 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $601/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $25,328/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$25,328
$84,236 vs $58,908/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
5% lower
460.5 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$360k less
$318,600 vs $679,000
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Downey 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 Downey to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $318,600 median home), income ($84,236 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.