East Los Angeles vs Wilmington: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of East Los Angeles, CA and Wilmington, NC, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricEast Los Angeles, CAWilmington, NC
Population117,222116,933
Median household income$64,119$58,908
Median home value$582,400$318,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,369$1,213

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing East Los Angeles, CA and Wilmington, NC comes down to what you value most. Wilmington has the lower median home value, and Wilmington has the lower median rent.

East Los Angeles has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in East Los Angeles or Wilmington?
By median home value, Wilmington is the cheaper of the two ($318,600 vs $582,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, East Los Angeles or Wilmington?
Median household income is $64,119 in East Los Angeles versus $58,908 in Wilmington, per the US Census Bureau.

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