Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Homes cost $406k less ($477,400 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1084/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,622)
28% less violent crime than Mission Viejo
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $11,253/yr
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Households earn $11,253 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/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
Violent Crime
28% lower
71.0 vs 99.2 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$406k less
$477,400 vs $883,600
Cary
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$11,253
$136,570 vs $125,317/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Mission Viejo, 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 | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| 🔒 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 | 26 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cary is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Cary wins 15 and Mission Viejo wins 8. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $883,600 median home), income ($125,317 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Mission Viejo, CA are about 2,197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.