Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
League City, TX
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
League City
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$117,316
Violent Crime Index
27
Population
113,469
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
31% less violent crime than League City
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,001 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
League City, TX
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($312,500 vs $477,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (103.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.5 min average each way
Median income trails Cary by $8,001/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$8,001
$125,317 vs $117,316/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
31% lower
71.0 vs 103.5 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
League City
Median Home Value
$165k less
$312,500 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | League City, 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 | $312,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,598⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $117,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 38 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 27 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 95.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | CLEAR CREEK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 58.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 113,469 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs League City's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Cary wins 16 and League City wins 7. 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 League City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $312,500 median home), income ($125,317 vs $117,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and League City, TX are about 1,041 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.