Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Columbus, OH
🏆 Cary leads 17 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Columbus
Ohio
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $62,323 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Columbus
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Columbus
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($212,500 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $62,323/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$62,323
$125,317 vs $62,994/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
84% lower
71.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 85.0°F
Columbus
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$265k less
$212,500 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $212,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,161 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $62,994 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Columbus City Schools District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 42.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 902,449 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 32.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Columbus's 94.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 17 of 23 categories. Cary wins 17 and Columbus wins 6. 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 Cary to Columbus or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $212,500 median home), income ($125,317 vs $62,994), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Columbus, OH are about 369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.