Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 18 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Cary
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($363,800 vs $477,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 89°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,538)
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cary by $29,586/yr
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.4%)
Cary, NC
Pros
93% less violent crime than Anchorage
Households earn $29,586 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 21°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$114k less
$363,800 vs $477,400
Cary
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$29,586
$125,317 vs $95,731/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
93% lower
71.0 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,538⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 4.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 174,880 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 18 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 5 and Cary wins 18. 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 Anchorage to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $477,400 median home), income ($95,731 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Cary, NC are about 3,453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.