01 · the cities
Naples
Naples brings wealthy retirees to the Gulf coast for genuinely some of the prettiest beaches in Florida, and the sunsets at the pier are a community ritual (everyone gathers, no one talks). The downtown along Fifth Avenue is pastel and breezy. Mercato has the upscale restaurants. The Everglades' western edge starts just south of town. Affluent, sunny, and quieter than the east-coast Florida cities.
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
$2,719/mo
$1,675/mo
$1,044/mo less than Naples (62%)
Median home price
Median home price
$679k
$448k
$231k less than Naples
State income tax
State income tax
0%
4.5%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$5,614/mo
$6,283/mo
Wilmington has $669/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
261 days
235 days
26 fewer than Naples
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
Naples edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
58 / 100
54 / 100
4.0 pts behind Naples
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
34 routes
5 routes
29 fewer direct routes than Naples
Metro size
Metro size
404k metro
467k metro
the verdict
4
Naples
categories won
3
Wilmington
categories won
Naples wins on weather and lifestyle. Wilmington has the edge on money.
run your numbers
How far does your Naples salary go?
Enter your salary to see a full ranked list of cities where you would live better.
see your top citiesWe use a proprietary blend of data from the US Census, Zillow, Ticketmaster, and more.
Walk Score® is a trademark of Walk Score, a Redfin company. How Walk Score works