Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
New York
New York
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
89% less violent crime than New York
Households earn $48,710 more per year on average
Homes cost $255k less ($477,400 vs $732,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
New York, NY
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $48,710/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$48,710
$125,317 vs $76,607/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
89% lower
71.0 vs 671.0 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$255k less
$477,400 vs $732,100
Cary
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cary is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Cary wins 19 and New York wins 4. 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $732,100 median home), income ($125,317 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and New York, NY are about 429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.