Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Jose, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories
San Jose
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,102 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $831k less ($318,600 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1313/mo less ($1,213 vs $2,526)
20% less violent crime than San Jose
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $77,102/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
San Jose
Median Income
$77,102
$136,010 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
20% lower
482.8 vs 606.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$831k less
$318,600 vs $1,149,600
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Jose, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,149,600⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,526⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,010 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.3% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 85.5% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Jose Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Jose's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Jose leads 12 of 23 categories. San Jose wins 12 and Wilmington wins 11. 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 San Jose to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,149,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($136,010 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Jose, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.