Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
10
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $22,311 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/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 $673k less ($318,600 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.9%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $22,311/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
Glendale
Median Income
$22,311
$81,219 vs $58,908/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
41% lower
287.2 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
$673k less
$318,600 vs $992,000
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 13 and Wilmington wins 10. 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 Glendale to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $318,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.