Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 16 of 23 categories
San Leandro
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
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.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,233 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $454k less ($318,600 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $784/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,997)
12% less violent crime than San Leandro
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $38,233/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 Leandro
Median Income
$38,233
$97,141 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
12% lower
482.8 vs 548.7 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$454k less
$318,600 vs $772,700
Wilmington
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 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 | 161⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro'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. San Leandro 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 San Leandro to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($97,141 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,465 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.