Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 16 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Wilmington
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,710 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($318,600 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $640/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,853)
48% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $27,710/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
Richmond
Median Income
$27,710
$86,618 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
48% lower
482.8 vs 923.1 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$306k less
$318,600 vs $624,800
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond'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 16 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 7 and Wilmington wins 16. 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 Richmond to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($86,618 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.