Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 16 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,586)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Round Rock by $13,257/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,257 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Round Rock
Median Income
$13,257
$91,888 vs $78,631/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
73% lower
130.7 vs 488.8 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $337,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 7 and Round Rock 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 Raleigh to Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $337,500 median home), income ($78,631 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Round Rock, TX are about 1,157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.