Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $61,066 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
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 1.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($196,700 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $526/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $61,066/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$61,066
$125,317 vs $64,251/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
89% lower
71.0 vs 676.0 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.5% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$281k less
$196,700 vs $477,400
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 59.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Cary wins 15 and Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $196,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Oklahoma City, OK are about 1,048 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.