Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 17 of 23 categories
Carson
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Cary
North Carolina
17
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Median income trails Cary by $22,272/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cary
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cary, NC
Pros
83% less violent crime than Carson
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Homes cost $139k less ($477,400 vs $616,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $22,272 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$22,272
$125,317 vs $103,045/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
83% lower
71.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$139k less
$477,400 vs $616,000
Cary
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 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 | 111⚠ High | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 39.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 66.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 17 of 23 categories. Carson wins 6 and Cary wins 17. 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 Carson to Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $477,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Cary, NC are about 2,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.