CostIndexUSA

Waterbury, CT vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is slightly cheaper than Waterbury — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Waterbury, you would need $77,300 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+4.6%
Waterbury
89.1
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Waterbury
97.3
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation4.4%
Waterbury
107.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare4.3%
Waterbury
97.5
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities40.4%
Waterbury
147.6
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Waterbury to see what you'd need to earn in Wilmington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$77,300
$2,700 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 99.8) = salary × 0.9659. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 4.6% higher housing costs compared to Waterbury.

Income & Job Market

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.