Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Stockton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
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.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,704 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Wilmington, NC
Pros
58% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $63k less ($318,600 vs $382,000)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,417)
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stockton by $12,704/yr
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Median Income
$12,704
$71,612 vs $58,908/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
58% lower
482.8 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$63k less
$318,600 vs $382,000
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Stockton wins 9 and Wilmington wins 14. 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 Stockton to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $318,600 median home), income ($71,612 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.