Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $31,760 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Wilmington
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($318,600 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $688/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.9%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $31,760/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
Quincy
Median Income
$31,760
$90,668 vs $58,908/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
31% lower
335.1 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$245k less
$318,600 vs $563,200
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.7% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 10 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 Quincy to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($90,668 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Wilmington, NC are about 669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.