Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Raleigh
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
72% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,749 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Homes cost $20k less ($327,300 vs $347,000)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,555)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carrollton by $16,749/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$16,749
$95,380 vs $78,631/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
72% lower
137.1 vs 488.8 per 100k
Carrollton
Median Home Value
$20k less
$327,300 vs $347,000
Carrollton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 15 and Raleigh wins 8. 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 Carrollton to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $347,000 median home), income ($95,380 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,058 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.