City comparison
Hartford, CT vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Hartford, CT are 6.6% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $106,600 in Hartford, CT to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,477 a month in Hartford, CT and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $444 a year higher in Hartford, CT than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Hartford, CT to Wilmington, NC ($120,094 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.6% in real buying power.
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Hartford, CT | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.7 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,845 in Wilmington | $106,559 in Hartford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,477/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,940 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hartford | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.2 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 144.9 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 102.7 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hartford, CT → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$444/yr.
89 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Hartford, CT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$444/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hartford, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Hartford, CT to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hartford, CT | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Hartford → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $61,722 | −5.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $74,678 | −5.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,508 | −5.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,437 | −5.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $125,776 | −5.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hartford, CT | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Hartford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,800 | $48,240 | $51,404 (−35.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,520 | $123,730 | $131,845 (−0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,940 | $77,920 | $83,031 (−13.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,470 | $80,970 | $86,281 (−15.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.