Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $28,058 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($318,600 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $28,058/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
Kent
Median Income
$28,058
$86,966 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$160k less
$318,600 vs $478,400
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories. Kent 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 Kent to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $318,600 median home), income ($86,966 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.