Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $79,350 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($168,900 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $593/mo less ($945 vs $1,538)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $79,350/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$79,350
$125,317 vs $45,967/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
94% lower
71.0 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$309k less
$168,900 vs $477,400
Shreveport
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 23 categories. Cary wins 13 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $168,900 median home), income ($125,317 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Shreveport, LA are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.