Population

Wilmington

118,578

Columbia

127,200

Median Income

Wilmington

$63,900

Columbia

$64,488

Home Value

Wilmington

$350,300

Columbia

$268,300

Rent

Wilmington

$1,311

Columbia

$1,067

Crime Rate

Wilmington

4.85

Columbia

3.49

Cost of Living

Wilmington

118.9

Columbia

108.5

Avg Temp

Wilmington

N/A

Columbia

N/A

Unemployment

Wilmington

4.6%

Columbia

3.9%

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How Similar Are Wilmington & Columbia?

Columbia is Wilmington's #6 most similar city

5/10

5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Wilmington

118,578

vs

Columbia

127,200

Match · 7% difference

Both cities have similar populations — Wilmington at 118,578 and Columbia at 127,200.

Violent Crime

Wilmington

4.85

vs

Columbia

3.49

Different · 28% difference
🚨

Wilmington has a 28% higher violent crime than Columbia.

Property Crime

🔒

Wilmington

35.15

vs

Columbia

23.18

Different · 34% difference

Wilmington has a 34% higher property crime than Columbia.

Political Leaning

Wilmington

49.1%

vs

Columbia

44.1%

Different · 10% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Wilmington has a stronger Democratic lean (10% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Wilmington

4.6%

vs

Columbia

3.9%

Different · 16% difference

Wilmington has a 16% higher unemployment than Columbia.

Median Income

Wilmington

$63,900

vs

Columbia

$64,488

Match · 1% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 1% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Wilmington

$350,300

vs

Columbia

$268,300

Different · 23% difference

Wilmington has a 23% higher home values than Columbia.

Education

Wilmington

30.9%

vs

Columbia

32.1%

Match · 4% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 4% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Wilmington

72.9%

vs

Columbia

74.3%

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar demographics — just a 2% difference.

Cost of Living

Wilmington

118.9

vs

Columbia

108.5

Match · 9% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 9% difference.

5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Wilmington and Columbia share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Wilmington

vsof 8

0

Columbia

Columbia leads in 4 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Columbia leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Columbia has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,011 vs $1,513 in Wilmington (50% lower). Columbia has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,160 vs $1,659 in Wilmington (43% lower). Columbia scores 124.7 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 153.8 in Wilmington.

Overall Cost Index

Wilmington118.9
Columbia108.5

Housing Index

Wilmington153.8
Columbia124.7

Food Index

Wilmington98.8
Columbia99.3

Transportation Index

Wilmington97.7
Columbia98.6

Healthcare Index

Wilmington99.1
Columbia99.4

Utilities Index

Wilmington110.1
Columbia104.5

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Wilmington$52,302
Columbia$47,740

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Wilmington$123,622
Columbia$112,841

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Wilmington$1,513
Columbia$1,011

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Wilmington$1,659
Columbia$1,160

Housing Market — Columbia leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbia has a vacancy rate of 7.3% compared to 9.9% in Wilmington. Wilmington has a median home value of $350,300 vs $268,300 in Columbia (31% higher). Columbia has a median rent of $1,067 vs $1,311 in Wilmington (23% lower).

Median Home Value

Wilmington$350,300
Columbia$268,300

Median Rent

Wilmington$1,311
Columbia$1,067

Median Property Tax

Wilmington$2,521
Columbia$2,478

Owner-Occupied

Wilmington46.8%
Columbia49.4%

Vacancy Rate

Wilmington9.9%
Columbia7.3%

Single-Family Homes

Wilmington55.6%
Columbia58.8%

Jobs & Economy — Wilmington leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Wilmington has a work from home of 17.7% compared to 9.6% in Columbia. Wilmington has a per capita income of $46,062 vs $37,359 in Columbia (23% higher). Columbia has a unemployment rate of 3.9% compared to 4.6% in Wilmington.

Median Household Income

Wilmington$63,900
Columbia$64,488

Per Capita Income

Wilmington$46,062
Columbia$37,359

Poverty Rate

Wilmington16.3%
Columbia20.0%

Unemployment Rate

Wilmington4.6%
Columbia3.9%

Labor Force

Wilmington65,405
Columbia69,265

Mean Commute

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Work from Home

Wilmington17.7%
Columbia9.6%

Private Sector

Wilmington86.5%
Columbia83.3%

Government Sector

Wilmington40.0%
Columbia36.7%

Crime & Safety — Columbia leads

Source: FBI UCR

Columbia has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.40 compared to 0.73 in Wilmington. Columbia has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 16.06 compared to 28.42 in Wilmington. Columbia has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 23.18 compared to 35.15 in Wilmington.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington4.85
Columbia3.49

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington35.15
Columbia23.18

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington0.06
Columbia0.10

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington0.73
Columbia0.40

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington3.59
Columbia2.59

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington3.61
Columbia3.33

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Wilmington28.42
Columbia16.06

Violent Crime Clearance

Wilmington40.5%
Columbia49.7%

Property Crime Clearance

Wilmington8.4%
Columbia12.6%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Avg Annual High

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Avg Annual Low

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Sunny Days per Year

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Annual Rainfall

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Annual Snowfall

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Avg Humidity

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Columbia has a bachelor's degree or higher of 32.1% compared to 30.9% in Wilmington. Wilmington has a high school diploma or higher of 43.0% compared to 41.7% in Columbia.

Public Schools

Wilmington0
Columbia0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Colleges & Universities

Wilmington0
Columbia0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Wilmington30.9%
Columbia32.1%

High School Diploma or Higher

Wilmington43.0%
Columbia41.7%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Columbia has a population of 127,200, about 1.1x the size of Wilmington (118,578). Columbia skews younger with a median age of 29.2 vs 37.5.

Population

Wilmington118,578
Columbia127,200

Median Age

Wilmington38
Columbia29

Avg Household Size

Wilmington2.1
Columbia2.3

Married Population

Wilmington35.4%
Columbia32.6%

Foreign Born

Wilmington5.7%
Columbia8.1%

White

Wilmington72.9%
Columbia74.3%

Black

Wilmington14.9%
Columbia12.1%

Hispanic

Wilmington8.9%
Columbia4.3%

Asian

Wilmington1.3%
Columbia6.1%

Wilmington

Columbia

Healthcare

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Nearby Hospitals

Wilmington5
Columbia5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

WilmingtonN/A
Columbia3.7

With Emergency Services

Wilmington3
Columbia3

Transportation & Commute — Columbia leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Wilmington has a work from home of 17.7% compared to 9.6% in Columbia. Columbia has a public transit of 1.2% compared to 0.4% in Wilmington. Columbia has a bicycle of 1.0% compared to 0.8% in Wilmington.

Mean Commute Time

WilmingtonN/A
ColumbiaN/A

Drive Alone

Wilmington70.9%
Columbia74.1%

Public Transit

Wilmington0.4%
Columbia1.2%

Bicycle

Wilmington0.8%
Columbia1.0%

Work from Home

Wilmington17.7%
Columbia9.6%

Airports

Wilmington0
Columbia0

Cities Similar to Wilmington, NC

Compare Wilmington against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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