Uprootmap
Wilmington vs Durham
Wilmington and Durham
Photo: unknown / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Durham are above the US rate in this release, 8.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Wilmington to Durham
In 2022-2023, 206 households filed a move from Wilmington to Durham (about 278 people, average adjusted gross income $60,170). 302 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,358 in Wilmington and $1,274 in Durham. Wilmington has a state tax on wages. Durham has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Durham is 98% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Wilmington.
Durham averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 37°F. Wilmington is 220 sunny days, 89°F in July, 39°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Durham and 24 in Wilmington.
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, 206 households moved Wilmington → Durham (about 278 people, average AGI $60,170). 302 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 Wilmington and Durham 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 Durham
Questions
Is Durham cheaper than Wilmington after tax and rent?
Yes. Durham leaves about $167 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,358 in Wilmington and $1,274 in Durham.
Does Durham have state income tax?
Durham is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Wilmington to Durham?
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.