Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Gilbert
Arizona
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
46% less violent crime than Gilbert
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Homes cost $23k less ($454,300 vs $477,400)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Median income trails Cary by $10,138/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$10,138
$125,317 vs $115,179/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
46% lower
71.0 vs 132.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$23k less
$454,300 vs $477,400
Gilbert
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $115,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 20.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 35 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 96.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Cary is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Cary wins 14 and Gilbert wins 9. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $454,300 median home), income ($125,317 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Gilbert, AZ are about 1,872 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.