Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Cary leads 13 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $62,261 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Tyler
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 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Tyler
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($205,200 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $62,261/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$62,261
$125,317 vs $63,056/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
82% lower
71.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$272k less
$205,200 vs $477,400
Tyler
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Cary leads 13 of 22 categories. Cary wins 13 and Tyler wins 9. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($125,317 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Tyler, TX are about 972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.