Question 1

Is Raleigh, NC or Wilmington, NC cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

Wilmington, NC is cheaper. The median home price in Raleigh, NC is approximately $425,200 and in Wilmington, NC it is approximately $219,700 — a difference of $205,500.

Question 2

Is Raleigh, NC or Wilmington, NC more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Raleigh, NC is more walkable. Raleigh, NC has a Walk Score of 48/100 and Wilmington, NC has a Walk Score of N/A/100.

Question 3

Which has better schools, Raleigh, NC or Wilmington, NC?

Accepted Answer

Raleigh, NC has higher-rated schools. Raleigh, NC has a school rating of 7.2/10 and Wilmington, NC has a rating of 6.5/10.

Question 4

Should I live in Raleigh, NC or Wilmington, NC?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Raleigh, NC	Wilmington, NC
Housing
Verdict	Think twice	Think twice
Median Price	$425K	$220K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$2K	$1K ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$62K ✓ Higher income	$47K
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	48/100 ✓ More walkable	Car-dependent
Transit Score	47/100 ✓ Better transit	Minimal transit
Bike Score	36/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	6 min	N/A
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+	D+
Violent Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Property Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low ✓ Lower risk	High
Air Quality	Moderate	Moderate
Community
Schools	7.2/10 ✓ Better schools	6.5/10
Best for	Families with school‑age kidsProfessionals working downtown who can driveStudents in nearby universities	Boating familiesWater‑sport enthusiastsAffordable starter‑home buyers

Raleigh, NC vs Wilmington, NC

Bottom line