Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 16 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $476k less ($347,000 vs $822,600)
33% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $420/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.5%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
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
Raleigh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$2,387
$78,631 vs $76,244/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
33% lower
488.8 vs 728.5 per 100k
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$476k less
$347,000 vs $822,600
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 465,517 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $347,000 median home), income ($76,244 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.