Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Cary leads 15 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $57,994 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Redding
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Redding, CA
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($343,000 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,278 vs $1,538)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $57,994/yr
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$57,994
$125,317 vs $67,323/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
89% lower
71.0 vs 647.8 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Home Value
$134k less
$343,000 vs $477,400
Redding
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $343,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 38.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Cary is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 15 of 23 categories. Cary wins 15 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $343,000 median home), income ($125,317 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Redding, CA are about 2,364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.