Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 22 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
Indianapolis
Indiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $66,207 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Indianapolis
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $293k less ($184,600 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $66,207/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$66,207
$125,317 vs $59,110/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
92% lower
71.0 vs 877.9 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 83.7°F
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$293k less
$184,600 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 159⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 41.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 22 categories. Cary wins 16 and Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $184,600 median home), income ($125,317 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Indianapolis, IN are about 486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.