Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Seattle, WA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
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.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $57,160 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $561k less ($318,600 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $732/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,945)
38% less violent crime than Seattle
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $57,160/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
Seattle
Median Income
$57,160
$116,068 vs $58,908/yr
Seattle
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
Violent Crime
38% lower
482.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$561k less
$318,600 vs $879,900
Wilmington
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $879,900⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,945⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $116,068 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 238⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.7% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Seattle School District No. 1 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 734,603 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.5% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | 16.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle'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 15 of 23 categories. Seattle wins 8 and Wilmington wins 15. 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 Seattle to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($879,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($116,068 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Seattle, WA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.