Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
76% less violent crime than Tracy
Rent averages $624/mo less ($1,538 vs $2,162)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
Homes cost $140k less ($477,400 vs $617,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Median income trails Cary by $13,600/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$13,600
$125,317 vs $111,717/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
76% lower
71.0 vs 301.4 per 100k
Cary
Median Home Value
$140k less
$477,400 vs $617,300
Cary
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $111,717 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Cary is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 18 of 23 categories. Cary wins 18 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $617,300 median home), income ($125,317 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Tracy, CA are about 2,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.