Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Cary
North Carolina
14
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($251,300 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $241/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,538)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $53,581/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cary
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $53,581 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Arlington
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$226k less
$251,300 vs $477,400
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.0°F
Cary
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$53,581
$125,317 vs $71,736/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
85% lower
71.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,538⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 174,880 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Cary wins 14. 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 Arlington to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $477,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Cary, NC are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.