Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Cary leads 17 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
San Francisco
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Homes cost $871k less ($477,400 vs $1,348,700)
88% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $778/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,316)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $11,372/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 89°F
Households earn $11,372 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Violent Crime
88% lower
71.0 vs 596.5 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$871k less
$477,400 vs $1,348,700
Cary
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
27.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$11,372
$136,689 vs $125,317/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 23.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 59.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 39.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Cary is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 17 of 23 categories. Cary wins 17 and San Francisco wins 6. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and San Francisco, CA are about 2,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.