Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Cary leads 20 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Seattle
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Homes cost $403k less ($477,400 vs $879,900)
91% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,538 vs $1,945)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Seattle, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cary
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$9,249
$125,317 vs $116,068/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
91% lower
71.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$403k less
$477,400 vs $879,900
Cary
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $116,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 27.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 66.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 95.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 20 of 23 categories. Cary wins 20 and Seattle wins 3. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $879,900 median home), income ($125,317 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Seattle, WA are about 2,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.