Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($181,600 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lubbock
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lubbock
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$137k less
$181,600 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Violent Crime
41% lower
482.8 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 12 and Wilmington wins 11. 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 Lubbock to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($58,734 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Wilmington, NC are about 1,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.