Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $67,027 more per year on average
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%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($207,800 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $321/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,538)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $67,027/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$67,027
$125,317 vs $58,290/yr
Cary
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Lakeland
Violent Crime
21% lower
56.0 vs 71.0 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$270k less
$207,800 vs $477,400
Lakeland
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Cary is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 23 categories. Cary wins 13 and Lakeland 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $207,800 median home), income ($125,317 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Lakeland, FL are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.