Example household · Asheville, NC · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Wilmington skyline

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Asheville vs Wilmington

Asheville and Wilmington

Photo: James Roberts (Jampp… / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Wilmington are close to the US rate in this release, 5.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Asheville to Wilmington

In 2022-2023, 112 households filed a move from Asheville to Wilmington (about 145 people, average adjusted gross income $67,357). 135 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,296 in Asheville and $1,358 in Wilmington. Asheville has a state tax on wages. Wilmington has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Wilmington is 91% of the national level for the same work, against 86% in Asheville.

Wilmington averages 220 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 39°F. Asheville is 217 sunny days, 85°F in July, 30°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Wilmington and 22 in Asheville.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 112 households moved Asheville → Wilmington (about 145 people, average AGI $67,357). 135 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Asheville and Wilmington changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 328 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,900–$3,550
Container or pod
$1,300–$2,400
Rent a truck
$550–$1,050

Movers in Wilmington and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Wilmington cheaper than Asheville after tax and rent?

No. Wilmington leaves about $57 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,296 in Asheville and $1,358 in Wilmington.

Does Wilmington have state income tax?

Wilmington is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Asheville to Wilmington?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.