Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($184,200 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wilmington by $10,599/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
35% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $10,599 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$134k less
$184,200 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Median Income
$10,599
$58,908 vs $48,309/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
35% lower
482.8 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 9 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 Knoxville to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($48,309 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Wilmington, NC are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.