Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 20 categories
Alafaya
Florida
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,251
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($361,800 vs $477,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $32,066/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $32,066 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Rent averages $230/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,768)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Median Home Value
$116k less
$361,800 vs $477,400
Cary
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$32,066
$125,317 vs $93,251/yr
Cary
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 19 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 20 categories. Alafaya wins 4 and Cary wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $477,400 median home), income ($93,251 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Cary, NC are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.