Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ 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.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $153/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,213)
Homes cost $32k less ($286,900 vs $318,600)
Households earn $4,408 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.9%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Wilmington, NC
Pros
28% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
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
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Median income trails Spokane by $4,408/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Median Income
$4,408
$63,316 vs $58,908/yr
Spokane
Median Home Value
$32k less
$286,900 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
28% lower
482.8 vs 674.9 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. Spokane 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 Spokane to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($63,316 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.