Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,949 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($318,600 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $834/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.9%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $39,949/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
Fairfield
Median Income
$39,949
$98,857 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
3% lower
482.8 vs 498.0 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$228k less
$318,600 vs $546,200
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. Fairfield 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 Fairfield to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($98,857 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.