Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
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.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($264,900 vs $318,600)
Households earn $11,011 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Wilmington
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Wilmington, NC
Pros
22% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 24°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Median income trails St. Paul by $11,011/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Median Income
$11,011
$69,919 vs $58,908/yr
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$54k less
$264,900 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
22% lower
482.8 vs 617.7 per 100k
Wilmington
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 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 | 163⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ 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 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. St. Paul wins 10 and Wilmington wins 13. 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 St. Paul to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($69,919 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Wilmington, NC are about 1,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.