Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
El Paso, TX
🏆 Cary leads 12 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
El Paso
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $69,607 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than El Paso
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than El Paso
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($159,300 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $562/mo less ($976 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $69,607/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$69,607
$125,317 vs $55,710/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
74% lower
71.0 vs 278.4 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
El Paso
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$318k less
$159,300 vs $477,400
El Paso
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | El Paso, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $159,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $976 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $55,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 27.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 81.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | EL PASO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 2.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 677,181 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs El Paso's 90.2 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 12 of 23 categories. Cary wins 12 and El Paso wins 11. 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 El Paso or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $159,300 median home), income ($125,317 vs $55,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and El Paso, TX are about 1,603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.