01 · the cities
Honolulu
Honolulu is Waikiki's high-rises pressed against turquoise water, Diamond Head crater glowing pink at dawn, and plate lunches that mix Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Portuguese into one perfect styrofoam container. Surf the south shore in summer, the north in winter. The North Shore is a 45-minute drive into a totally different world. Aloha here is a way of moving through the day.
full dispatch→Wilmington
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.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,843/mo
$1,675/mo
$1,168/mo less than Honolulu (70%)
Median home price
Median home price
$1.1M
$448k
$613k less than Honolulu
State income tax
State income tax
11.0%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,574/mo
$6,283/mo
Wilmington has $1,709/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
316 days
235 days
81 fewer than Honolulu
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Honolulu edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
55 / 100
54 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
51 routes
5 routes
46 fewer direct routes than Honolulu
Metro size
Metro size
989k metro
467k metro
Honolulu has 4.8x more events per month than Wilmington.
the verdict
2
Honolulu
categories won
4
Wilmington
categories won
Wilmington wins on money. Honolulu has the edge on weather and lifestyle.
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