Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Green Bay, WI
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Green Bay
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $66,143 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Green Bay
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 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Green Bay
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($172,700 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $674/mo less ($864 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $66,143/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$66,143
$125,317 vs $59,174/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
86% lower
71.0 vs 495.1 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 79.8°F
Green Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$305k less
$172,700 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Green Bay, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $172,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $864 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $59,174 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Green Bay Area Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 24.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 32.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 55.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 106,846 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 56.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Green Bay's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Cary wins 15 and Green Bay wins 8. 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 Green Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $172,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $59,174), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Green Bay, WI are about 773 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.