Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 16 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Wilmington
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
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.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($112,200 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $259/mo less ($954 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wilmington by $8,161/yr
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
64% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.9%)
Households earn $8,161 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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 Lansing
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$206k less
$112,200 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Median Income
$8,161
$58,908 vs $50,747/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
64% lower
482.8 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.3% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 16 of 23 categories. Lansing wins 7 and Wilmington wins 16. 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 Lansing to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($50,747 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and Wilmington, NC are about 689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.