Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Livonia
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
53% less violent crime than Raleigh
Homes cost $98k less ($249,000 vs $347,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,827 more per year on average
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,371)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Livonia by $13,827/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$13,827
$92,458 vs $78,631/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
53% lower
228.1 vs 488.8 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$98k less
$249,000 vs $347,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Livonia wins 11 and Raleigh wins 11. 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 Livonia to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $347,000 median home), income ($92,458 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Raleigh, NC are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.