Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $76,420 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $322k less ($155,200 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $571/mo less ($967 vs $1,538)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $76,420/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$76,420
$125,317 vs $48,897/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
95% lower
71.0 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$322k less
$155,200 vs $477,400
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 24.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Cary wins 14 and Macon-Bibb County wins 9. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $155,200 median home), income ($125,317 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.