Moving from Goodyear, AZ to Wilmington, NC

Moving from Goodyear, AZ to Wilmington, NC is a 2301 mi cross-country relocation — about 40h 56m of driving through 11 states. At this range professional movers, a PODS or U-Pack container, or an auto-transport service are usually on the table. The sections below pull current BEA cost-of-living, Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS, BLS wages, and NOAA climate normals for a side-by-side view.

2301 mi · 40h 56m by car · NC → SC → GA → AL → MS → TN → AR → OK → TX → NM → AZ

COL -6.7% Home values -11.3% Δ -9.5°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2301 mi
Drive time
40h 56m
States
11
Fuel (25 mpg)
92 gal
Route throughNC → SC → GA → AL → MS → TN → AR → OK → TX → NM → AZ
Primary highwaysI 40, I 20, I 22
Major cities en routeColumbia, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, South Fulton, Birmingham

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

GoodyearWilmingtonU.S. avg
All items (RPP)103.31696.422100.0
Rents93.33287.902100.0
Goods95.02496.621100.0
Services121.23693.215100.0

Wilmington is 6.7% cheaper than Goodyear overall, per BEA Regional Price Parities (2024).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Goodyear — typical home
$469,424
Wilmington — typical home
$416,159
Goodyear — typical rent
$1,796/mo
Wilmington — typical rent
$1,651/mo

Typical home value in Wilmington is 6.7% below Goodyear ($416,159 vs $469,424 on Zillow ZHVI, 2026-03).

YoY change: Goodyear -1.2%, Wilmington -1.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsGoodyearWilmington
Annual avg temperature74°F64°F
January avg low43°F36°F
July avg high107°F90°F
Annual snowfall0.0"0.9"
Annual precipitation7.4"60.1"

Wilmington is 9.5°F cooler on the annual average (73.9°F vs 64.4°F, NOAA 1991–2020).

Wilmington gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: LAVEEN 3 SSE, AZ US, WILMINGTON INTL AP, NC US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023GoodyearWilmington
Population102,891118,578
Median household income$101,814$63,900
Median age40.837.5
Bachelor's degree or higher22.2%29.2%
Avg household size2.872.15

Median household income in Wilmington is 6.7% below Goodyear ($101,814 vs $63,900, ACS 5-year 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Goodyear MSA — median wage
$48,600
Wilmington MSA — median wage
$43,250
Goodyear MSA — employment
2,289,130
Wilmington MSA — employment
142,780

Top occupations in Wilmington MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 17,880 $27,660
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 16,320 $38,760
Sales and Related Occupations 15,960 $34,860
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 11,580 $35,690
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 10,220 $76,440

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between Arizona and North Carolina

Arizona income tax
2.5% top marginal
North Carolina income tax
4.25% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check North Carolina's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • I-40 through Pigeon Gap and I-26 over Saluda Grade can see chain requirements in winter storms.
  • I-40 through the Smokies and I-75 near Jellico Mountain can see chain requirements in winter storms.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Wilmington average 90°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Pack rain gear on top: Wilmington averages 60.1 in of annual precipitation — waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
  • Atlantic hurricane season runs August through October, particularly on the Outer Banks.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in North Carolina after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

Is Wilmington more expensive than Goodyear?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Wilmington is 6.7% lower than Goodyear (96.422 vs 103.316, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How much do homes cost in Wilmington compared to Goodyear?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $416,159 in Wilmington vs $469,424 in Goodyear — a 11.3% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in Goodyear vs Wilmington?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $63,900 in Wilmington vs $101,814 in Goodyear — a 37.2% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

When is the best time to move from Goodyear to Wilmington?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2301 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does the job market in Wilmington compare to Goodyear?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,250 in the Wilmington MSA vs $48,600 in the Goodyear MSA, on total employment of 142,780 and 2,289,130 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

What is the climate difference between Goodyear and Wilmington?

On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 64.4°F in Wilmington vs 73.9°F in Goodyear (9.5°F colder). Annual snowfall: 0.9 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 60.1 in vs 7.4 in.

How far is Wilmington, NC from Goodyear, AZ?

The driving distance is 2301 mi and the route typically takes 40h 56m via I 40 and I 20. The trip crosses 11 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Goodyear.

City profiles: Goodyear, AZ · Wilmington, NC.

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