Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories
Surprise
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Wilmington
Households earn $28,848 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $609/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $34k less ($318,600 vs $352,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $28,848/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Median Income
$28,848
$87,756 vs $58,908/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
77% lower
109.1 vs 482.8 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$34k less
$318,600 vs $352,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 16 of 23 categories. Surprise wins 16 and Wilmington wins 7. 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 Surprise to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $318,600 median home), income ($87,756 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Wilmington, NC are about 1,972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.