Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Gainesville, FL
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Gainesville
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $81,534 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Gainesville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($216,600 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $81,534/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$81,534
$125,317 vs $43,783/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
90% lower
71.0 vs 738.0 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Gainesville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$261k less
$216,600 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Gainesville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $216,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,151 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $43,783 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 10.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 50.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | ALACHUA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 142,414 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 26.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Gainesville's 96.9 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Cary wins 16 and Gainesville 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 Gainesville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $216,600 median home), income ($125,317 vs $43,783), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Gainesville, FL are about 469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.