Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Raleigh
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Raleigh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Raleigh, NC
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $205/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$7,264
$78,631 vs $71,367/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
41% lower
488.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$22k less
$347,000 vs $368,800
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 7 and Raleigh wins 16. 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 Lancaster to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $347,000 median home), income ($71,367 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.