Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Eugene
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $63,836 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Eugene, OR
Pros
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,538)
Homes cost $71k less ($406,000 vs $477,400)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $63,836/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$63,836
$125,317 vs $61,481/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
78% lower
71.0 vs 317.9 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Median Home Value
$71k less
$406,000 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 94.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 45.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Cary is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Cary wins 16 and Eugene wins 7. 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 Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $406,000 median home), income ($125,317 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Eugene, OR are about 2,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.