Is Wilmington cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Wilmington is $1,659 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 14% cheaper. Median household income is $58,908 in Wilmington compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Wilmington or Dallas?

Wilmington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Dallas — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Wilmington or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Wilmington and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Wilmington, NC vs Dallas, TX

Wilmington, NC versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,659 a month in Wilmington and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $58,908 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Wilmington takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Wilmington leads by 67% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Wilmington can feel further apart than Wilmington and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Wilmington and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Wilmington report Full Dallas report

Wilmington, NC

Rent: $1,659/mo
Median income: $58,908
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

14% cheaper

Wilmington rent is 14% cheaper than Dallas

Wilmington

Winner

$1,659/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,659 a month in Wilmington versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Wilmington is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,264 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Wilmington still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Dallas.

Median income

9% higher

Dallas's median income is 9% higher than Wilmington

Wilmington

$58,908

Dallas

Winner

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas versus $58,908 in Wilmington, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Dallas — about $5,077 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Wilmington's crime index is 11% lower than Dallas

Wilmington

Winner

97 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Wilmington's crime index is 97 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Wilmington. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Wilmington, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Dallas. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Wilmington and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Wilmington

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Wilmington, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

67% more comfortable

Wilmington weather is 67% more comfortable than Dallas

Wilmington

Winner

80°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Wilmington scores 67% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Wilmington and 92°F in Dallas. Wilmington reads as warm weather most of the year; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Wilmington is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Wilmington

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Wilmington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,659 a month. Choose Wilmington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Wilmington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (80°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 67%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Wilmington is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Wilmington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Dallas (97 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Wilmington report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($63,985). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Wilmington vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, Wilmington is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Wilmington offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Wilmington vs Dallas FAQ

Is Wilmington cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Wilmington is $1,659 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 14% cheaper. Median household income is $58,908 in Wilmington compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Wilmington or Dallas?: Wilmington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 97 versus 109 in Dallas — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Wilmington or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Wilmington and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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