Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Irvine
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Homes cost $548k less ($477,400 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1211/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,749)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cary
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$2,369
$125,317 vs $122,948/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
15% lower
71.0 vs 84.0 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$548k less
$477,400 vs $1,025,700
Cary
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $122,948 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 22 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 70.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 96.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cary is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Cary wins 19 and Irvine wins 4. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Irvine, CA are about 2,202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.