West Palm Beach vs Wilmington: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of West Palm Beach, FL and Wilmington, NC, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | West Palm Beach, FL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,588 | 116,933 |
| Median household income | $64,044 | $58,908 |
| Median home value | $324,800 | $318,600 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,614 | $1,213 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing West Palm Beach, FL and Wilmington, NC comes down to what you value most. Wilmington has the lower median home value, and Wilmington has the lower median rent.
West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or Wilmington?
- By median home value, Wilmington is the cheaper of the two ($318,600 vs $324,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, West Palm Beach or Wilmington?
- Median household income is $64,044 in West Palm Beach versus $58,908 in Wilmington, per the US Census Bureau.