Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,956 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wilmington
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($318,600 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $863/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.9%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $56,956/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
Elk Grove
Median Income
$56,956
$115,864 vs $58,908/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
61% lower
189.9 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$242k less
$318,600 vs $560,500
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 12 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 12 and Wilmington wins 11. 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 Elk Grove to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($115,864 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.