2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Wilmington, NC

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Highlights
Are people in Wilmington older or younger than people in Santa Barbara?
- The Median Age in Wilmington is 1.7 years younger than in Santa Barbara.

Are housing costs cheaper in Wilmington or Santa Barbara?
- Wilmington housing costs are 75.6% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Wilmington or Santa Barbara?
- The average commute for residents of Wilmington is 1.6 minutes longer than it is for residents of Santa Barbara.

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

Things to do in Wilmington?
Wilmington, North Carolina is a coastal city located just off the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its historic downtown and award-winning beachfront, Wilmington is an ideal destination for both tourists and locals alike. Boasting plenty of cultural activities such as the Cameron Art Museum and Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, it's easy to find entertainment in this vibrant city. With a variety of restaurants, boutiques and galleries, there's no shortage of things to do in Wilmington. With gorgeous beaches and beautiful scenery surrounding the city, you can easily see why visitors love spending time in Wilmington!

 Santa Barbara, CAWilmington, NCUnited States
 Population  Unlock115,976329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock37.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.15  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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Reviews for Wilmington    71 Reviews

I was born here and I will update more at a later time. First and most important, teh average cost of a 1br apt in Wilmington is approximately $1,800. Rentals have  More

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I think that a lot has changed since covid for this city and will continue to keep changing with our insane economy. But I was born and raised in Wilmington and have  More

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Scotty · 

Wilmington NC was once a wonderful city filled with Southern charm, history, safety and natural beauty. Recently that has been replaced by erasing everything Southern or  More

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