Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123
Violent Crime Index
25
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $14,194 more per year on average
Rent averages $84/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,622)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($311,100 vs $477,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $14,194/yr
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$14,194
$125,317 vs $111,123/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
26% lower
71.0 vs 95.9 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$166k less
$311,100 vs $477,400
Pearland
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $111,123 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 43 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 25 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Cary wins 16 and Pearland wins 7. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $311,100 median home), income ($125,317 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Pearland, TX are about 1,050 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.