Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, VA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Wilmington
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
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
$698
$59,606 vs $58,908/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
30% lower
336.9 vs 482.8 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$10k less
$308,300 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($59,606 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Wilmington, NC are about 231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.