Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
92% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $38,699 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Homes cost $147k less ($477,400 vs $624,800)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $38,699/yr
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$38,699
$125,317 vs $86,618/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
92% lower
71.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$147k less
$477,400 vs $624,800
Cary
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
18.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Cary wins 19 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $624,800 median home), income ($125,317 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Richmond, CA are about 2,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.