Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $20,177 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
55% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $97k less ($318,600 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,489)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $20,177/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
Tacoma
Median Income
$20,177
$79,085 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
55% lower
482.8 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$97k less
$318,600 vs $415,300
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 18 of 23 categories. Tacoma 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 Tacoma to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($79,085 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Wilmington, NC are about 2,462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.