Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Cary leads 18 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Homes cost $1032k less ($477,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1433/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,971)
71% less violent crime than San Mateo
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $23,835/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $23,835 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 89°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Cary
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Violent Crime
71% lower
71.0 vs 243.2 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$1032k less
$477,400 vs $1,508,900
Cary
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.7% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$23,835
$149,152 vs $125,317/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | San Mateo, 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 | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 58.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cary is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 18 of 23 categories. Cary wins 18 and San Mateo wins 5. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($125,317 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and San Mateo, CA are about 2,392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.