Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Cary leads 17 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Houston
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $64,877 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 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)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($235,000 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $303/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,538)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $64,877/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$64,877
$125,317 vs $60,440/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
94% lower
71.0 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Home Value
$242k less
$235,000 vs $477,400
Houston
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 17 of 23 categories. Cary wins 17 and Houston wins 6. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $235,000 median home), income ($125,317 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Houston, TX are about 1,046 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.