Head-to-Head · City Comparison
West Palm Beach, FL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 22 categories
West Palm Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
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.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 57°F
Households earn $5,136 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,614)
16% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.9%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $5,136/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$5,136
$64,044 vs $58,908/yr
Wilmington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Violent Crime
16% lower
482.8 vs 575.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | West Palm Beach, FL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,800⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,614⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,044 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 61.7" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,588 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.8% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
West Palm Beach's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 22 categories. West Palm Beach wins 10 and Wilmington wins 12. 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 West Palm Beach to Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($64,044 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
West Palm Beach, FL and Wilmington, NC are about 533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.