Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Cary leads 18 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
Tacoma
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
93% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $46,232 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($415,300 vs $477,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $46,232/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Cary
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$46,232
$125,317 vs $79,085/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
93% lower
71.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Cary
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$62k less
$415,300 vs $477,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 18 of 23 categories. Cary wins 18 and Tacoma wins 5. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($125,317 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Tacoma, WA are about 2,357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.