Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $14,858 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mesa by $14,858/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$14,858
$73,766 vs $58,908/yr
Mesa
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 12 of 23 categories. Mesa 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 Mesa to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($73,766 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Wilmington, NC are about 1,934 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.