Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
Raleigh
North Carolina
17
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.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Raleigh by $12,339/yr
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
42% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $12,339 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,509)
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
Orlando
Median Home Value
$14k less
$332,700 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$12,339
$78,631 vs $66,292/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
42% lower
488.8 vs 835.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ 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 | 192⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories. Orlando wins 6 and Raleigh wins 17. 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 Orlando to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $347,000 median home), income ($66,292 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC are about 535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.