Utica-Rome Wilmington

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Utica-Rome to Wilmington is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 92.7 to 96.4 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $254/mo.

-$5,193
BLS median salary lower in Wilmington
380 to 365
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
11.8:1 to 15.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$4,382
DOL infant care lower / yr in Wilmington

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 92.7 → 96.4
Rent Delta: +$254/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + More affordable childcare
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 4% higher cost of living
  • - $254/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $5K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 92.7 to 96.4 (ratio 1.04), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $254/mo ($3,048/yr) from $1,172 in Utica-Rome to $1,426 in Wilmington.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Wilmington sits #201 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Utica-Rome is #54/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $5,193 lower ($69,489 → $64,296). Labor-market size: 109,220 tracked jobs at origin vs 183,460 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: North Carolina scores 68 (C, #13/51) vs New York at 46 (F, #46/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Utica-Rome
Wilmington
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 92.7
RPP 96.4
Utica-Rome
Rent (2BR)
$1,172/mo
$1,426/mo
Utica-Rome
Wages
$69,489
$64,296
Utica-Rome
Crime
380 per 100K
365 per 100K
Wilmington
Schools
11.8:1
15.8:1
Utica-Rome
Childcare
$13,869/yr
$9,487/yr
Wilmington
Environment
5536 violations
3120 violations
Wilmington

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · New York
46 F #46/51
Income tax
80
Property tax
48
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
96
Destination state · North Carolina
68 C #13/51
Income tax
68
Property tax
66
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
30

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Utica-Rome to see what you'd need to earn in Wilmington to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Wilmington
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026