Head-to-Head · City Comparison
South Gate, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Wilmington
North Carolina
18
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.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,280 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($318,600 vs $578,900)
8% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Gate by $8,280/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
South Gate
Median Income
$8,280
$67,188 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
8% lower
482.8 vs 525.6 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$260k less
$318,600 vs $578,900
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | South Gate, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $578,900⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,188 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.5% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 58.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Westbrook Academy District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,381 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
South Gate's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories. South Gate wins 5 and Wilmington wins 18. 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 South Gate to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($578,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($67,188 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
South Gate, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.