on $100k a year, leaving Rochester
changea dispatch from
wilmington
NC
34.23°N
77.95°W
Wilmington has been called 'Hollywood East' for the volume of film and TV produced here (Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and dozens of features). The historic riverfront on the Cape Fear is genuinely charming, and Wrightsville Beach is 15 minutes away. The food scene punches above its weight, especially seafood. UNCW keeps it youthful. A coastal city with both beach and downtown charm.
in our guides
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read the guidethe verdict
the monthly premium over Rochester
Almost a wash on cost. The case for Wilmington is about what you'd do there, not what you'd save.
a quick ledger.
$1,675/mo
9% more expensive than Rochester(vs $1,534/mo)
4.5%
$113/mo less in state tax than Rochester
vs 5.85% in Rochester
$6,283/mo
$29 less than Rochester
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$448k
64% more expensive than Rochester
vs $273k in Rochester
467k
vs 1.1M in Rochester
field notes, weather & such.
235
pleasant days a year, in wilmington.
Rochester barely cracks 147 pleasant ones.
But the calendar thins out: Rochester stays 1.5× busier.
54/100
7% lower than Rochester
vs 58/100 in Rochester
Closest outdoor draw: Lake Waccamaw State Park, 32.5 mi.
67/100
3% lower than Rochester
vs 69/100 in Rochester
5
72% fewer than Rochester
vs 18 nonstops in Rochester
neighbors of wilmington on the map of tradeoffs:
compare wilmington with:
