Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 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
Santa Rosa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
79% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Homes cost $184k less ($477,400 vs $661,700)
Households earn $32,713 more per year on average
Rent averages $486/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,024)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Median income trails Cary by $32,713/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$32,713
$125,317 vs $92,604/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
79% lower
71.0 vs 342.6 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$184k less
$477,400 vs $661,700
Cary
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Cary is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Cary wins 16 and Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $661,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Santa Rosa, CA are about 2,402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.