Wake Forest, NC vs Wilmington, NC

Wilmington is moderately more affordable than Wake Forest, with a 12.2% lower cost of living index. Wake Forest scores 114 compared to 102 for Wilmington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wake Forest can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Wake Forest is $1,458/month compared to $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wilmington is more affordable at $350,300 median vs $435,000.

Median household income in Wake Forest is $120,777 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (+89%). While Wake Forest is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Wake Forest spend roughly 14.5% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Wilmington.