Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($208,900 vs $318,600)
Households earn $6,348 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Rent averages $82/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,213)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
69% less violent crime than Kansas City
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
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
Median income trails Kansas City by $6,348/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Income
$6,348
$65,256 vs $58,908/yr
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$110k less
$208,900 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Violent Crime
69% lower
482.8 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 11 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 Kansas City to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($65,256 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Wilmington, NC are about 982 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.