Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Scottsdale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197
Violent Crime Index
40
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
53% less violent crime than Scottsdale
Homes cost $174k less ($477,400 vs $651,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $21,120 more per year on average
Rent averages $230/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Median income trails Cary by $21,120/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$21,120
$125,317 vs $104,197/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
53% lower
71.0 vs 152.5 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$174k less
$477,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $104,197 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.5% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 26.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 61.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 23 categories. Cary wins 13 and Scottsdale wins 10. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($125,317 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.