Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594
Cary
North Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Cary
Cary, NC
Pros
68% less violent crime than Alexandria
Homes cost $178k less ($477,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,983)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$12,138
$125,317 vs $113,179/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
68% lower
71.0 vs 219.1 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$178k less
$477,400 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.4% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 4.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 4 and Cary wins 19. 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 Alexandria to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $477,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Cary, NC are about 231 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.