Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Raleigh
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Raleigh
Homes cost $70k less ($277,200 vs $347,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $28,730/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Raleigh
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $28,730 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Violent Crime
13% lower
424.8 vs 488.8 per 100k
Hemet
Median Home Value
$70k less
$277,200 vs $347,000
Hemet
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$28,730
$78,631 vs $49,901/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hemet leads 13 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 13 and Raleigh 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 Hemet to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $347,000 median home), income ($49,901 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.