Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Wilmington, NC
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Wilmington, NC
Pros
11% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Households earn $3,174 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($243,300 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,213)
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.9%)
Median income trails Wilmington by $3,174/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Wilmington
Key Differences at a Glance
Wilmington
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Income
$3,174
$58,908 vs $55,734/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
11% lower
482.8 vs 544.3 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Median Home Value
$75k less
$243,300 vs $318,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Wilmington, NC | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $318,600⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,213 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,908 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.7% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.6% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Hanover County Schools | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,933 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.7% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wilmington's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. Wilmington wins 15 and Yakima wins 8. 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 Wilmington to Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($318,600 vs $243,300 median home), income ($58,908 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Wilmington, NC and Yakima, WA are about 2,368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.