Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Wilmington
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($318,600 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,605)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
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
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$1,021
$59,929 vs $58,908/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
12% lower
423.2 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
$279k less
$318,600 vs $597,200
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 15 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Wilmington wins 15. 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 El Monte to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($59,929 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.