Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($197,700 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($940 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Wilmington by $6,114/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
66% less violent crime than Pueblo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,114 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5% higher than Pueblo
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Home Value
$121k less
$197,700 vs $318,600
Pueblo
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Median Income
$6,114
$58,908 vs $52,794/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
66% lower
482.8 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Pueblo wins 9 and Wilmington wins 14. 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 Pueblo to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($52,794 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Wilmington, NC are about 1,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.