City comparison
Trenton, NJ vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Trenton, NJ are 7.0% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $107,000 in Trenton, NJ to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,545 a month in Trenton, NJ and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $699 a year higher in Trenton, NJ than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Trenton, NJ to Wilmington, NC ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.2% in real buying power.
- Trenton, NJ: price level 103.2 (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
| Trenton, NJ | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.2 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,450 in Wilmington | $107,009 in Trenton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,545/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,000 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,180 (NJ) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $63,490 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Trenton-Princeton, NJ and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Trenton | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 135.1 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 99.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 112.3 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 97.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 103.2 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Trenton, NJ → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$699/yr.
91 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Trenton, NJ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$699/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Trenton, NJ is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Trenton, NJ to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Trenton, NJ | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Trenton → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −9.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −9.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −9.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −9.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −9.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Trenton, NJ | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Trenton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,850 | $48,240 | $51,621 (−33.7%) |
| Software Developers | $128,770 | $123,730 | $132,402 (+2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,550 | $77,920 | $83,381 (−16.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,990 | $80,970 | $86,645 (−13.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.