Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Cary
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Homes cost $16k less ($461,500 vs $477,400)
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $38,761/yr
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Cary, NC
Pros
85% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $38,761 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Home Value
$16k less
$461,500 vs $477,400
Austin
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 89.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Cary
Median Income
$38,761
$125,317 vs $86,556/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
85% lower
71.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A (118) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 174,880 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Austin is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $477,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Cary, NC are about 1,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.