Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
High Point, NC
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
High Point
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
114,120
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $66,735 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than High Point
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than High Point
High Point, NC
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($196,500 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,030 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $66,735/yr
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$66,735
$125,317 vs $58,582/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
84% lower
71.0 vs 454.8 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
High Point
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Home Value
$281k less
$196,500 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | High Point, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $196,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,030 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $58,582 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ 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 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 1.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 114,120 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 58.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs High Point's 92.7 (US average = 100).
High Point is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 23 categories. Cary wins 13 and High Point wins 10. 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 High Point or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $196,500 median home), income ($125,317 vs $58,582), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and High Point, NC are about 67 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.