Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Cary leads 12 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Paradise
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25
Population
189,733 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $70,093 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Paradise, NV
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($333,800 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,192 vs $1,538)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $70,093/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.1 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$70,093
$125,317 vs $55,224/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
25% lower
71.0 vs 94.1 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Median Home Value
$144k less
$333,800 vs $477,400
Paradise
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $333,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,192 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 25 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 23.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 189,733 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Cary is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 12 of 23 categories. Cary wins 12 and Paradise wins 11. 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 Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $333,800 median home), income ($125,317 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Paradise, NV are about 2,020 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.