Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($236,500 vs $318,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
10% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Rent averages $189/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,402)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,603 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Median Home Value
$82k less
$236,500 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Income
$4,603
$58,908 vs $54,305/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
10% lower
482.8 vs 534.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.8% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories. New Haven 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 New Haven to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($54,305 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Wilmington, NC are about 560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.