Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $19,303/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cary, NC
Pros
75% less violent crime than Arvada
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,303 more per year on average
Homes cost $76k less ($477,400 vs $553,000)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$19,303
$125,317 vs $106,014/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
75% lower
71.0 vs 285.6 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$76k less
$477,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 4.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 39.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 66.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Arvada 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 Arvada to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $477,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Cary, NC are about 1,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.