Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $60,354 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Kenosha
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 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($194,400 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,538)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $60,354/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$60,354
$125,317 vs $64,963/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
75% lower
71.0 vs 285.7 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 83.8°F
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$283k less
$194,400 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $64,963 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Cary is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 17 of 23 categories. Cary wins 17 and Kenosha 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $194,400 median home), income ($125,317 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Kenosha, WI are about 675 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.