Uprootmap
Durham vs Wilmington
Durham 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.
Other cities
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 Durham to Wilmington
In 2022-2023, 302 households filed a move from Durham to Wilmington (about 478 people, average adjusted gross income $97,460). 206 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,274 in Durham and $1,358 in Wilmington. Durham 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 98% in Durham.
Wilmington averages 220 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 39°F. Durham is 222 sunny days, 89°F in July, 37°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Wilmington and 24 in Durham.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 302 households moved Durham → Wilmington (about 478 people, average AGI $97,460). 206 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 Durham and Wilmington changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 161 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Wilmington
Questions
Is Wilmington cheaper than Durham after tax and rent?
No. Wilmington leaves about $167 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,274 in Durham 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 Durham 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.