Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Hemet leads 12 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Wilmington
Homes cost $41k less ($277,200 vs $318,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Wilmington by $9,007/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Wilmington
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,007 more per year on average
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Rent averages $144/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,357)
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Violent Crime
12% lower
424.8 vs 482.8 per 100k
Hemet
Median Home Value
$41k less
$277,200 vs $318,600
Hemet
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Income
$9,007
$58,908 vs $49,901/yr
Wilmington
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.9% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hemet leads 12 of 23 categories. Hemet 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 Hemet to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($49,901 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.