Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $50,360 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Wilmington
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $695/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Homes cost $75k less ($318,600 vs $393,700)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $50,360/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
Germantown
Median Income
$50,360
$109,268 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$75k less
$318,600 vs $393,700
Wilmington
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 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 | — | 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 | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 and Wilmington wins 12. 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 Germantown to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($109,268 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Wilmington, NC are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.