Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $33,384 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Wilmington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($318,600 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $33,384/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
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$33,384
$92,292 vs $58,908/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
30% lower
339.2 vs 482.8 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$258k less
$318,600 vs $576,800
Wilmington
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Renton 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 Renton to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($92,292 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.