Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 18 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 89°F
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Cary
Cary, NC
Pros
Homes cost $803k less ($477,400 vs $1,280,300)
89% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,067)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$20,601
$125,317 vs $104,716/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
89% lower
71.0 vs 638.8 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$803k less
$477,400 vs $1,280,300
Cary
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 70.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 18 of 23 categories. Berkeley 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 Berkeley to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $477,400 median home), income ($104,716 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Cary, NC are about 2,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.