Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Inglewood, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories
Inglewood
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Wilmington
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,655 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $371k less ($318,600 vs $689,700)
Rent averages $453/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,666)
28% less violent crime than Inglewood
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.9%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Inglewood by $8,655/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Inglewood
Median Income
$8,655
$67,563 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
28% lower
482.8 vs 674.6 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$371k less
$318,600 vs $689,700
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Inglewood, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $689,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,666⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,563 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inglewood Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,806 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.5% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.3% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Inglewood'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, Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories. Inglewood wins 5 and Wilmington wins 18. 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 Inglewood to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($689,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($67,563 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Inglewood, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.