Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Wilmington
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $45,955 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.1%)
Homes cost $35k less ($283,600 vs $318,600)
Smaller class sizes — 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,311)
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $45,955/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
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$45,955
$104,863 vs $58,908/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
88% lower
59.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$35k less
$283,600 vs $318,600
O'Fallon
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 14 of 23 categories. O'Fallon wins 14 and Wilmington wins 9. 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 O'Fallon to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($104,863 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and Wilmington, NC are about 779 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.