Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,481 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 90°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $565k less ($318,600 vs $883,800)
75% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $636/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,849)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $35,481/yr
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
Oakland
Median Income
$35,481
$94,389 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
75% lower
482.8 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$565k less
$318,600 vs $883,800
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. Oakland wins 8 and Wilmington wins 15. 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 Oakland to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($94,389 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.