Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Cary leads 19 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
55% less violent crime than Stamford
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,129)
Households earn $24,599 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Homes cost $107k less ($477,400 vs $584,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Median income trails Cary by $24,599/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$24,599
$125,317 vs $100,718/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
55% lower
71.0 vs 157.5 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$107k less
$477,400 vs $584,700
Cary
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Cary is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 19 of 23 categories. Cary wins 19 and Stamford wins 4. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $584,700 median home), income ($125,317 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Stamford, CT are about 464 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.