Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 22 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
10% less violent crime than Warren
Households earn $16,998 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($169,300 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,371)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Raleigh by $16,998/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Median Income
$16,998
$78,631 vs $61,633/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
10% lower
488.8 vs 541.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Warren
Median Home Value
$178k less
$169,300 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 86.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 29.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 22 categories. Raleigh wins 13 and Warren wins 9. 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $169,300 median home), income ($78,631 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Warren, MI are about 517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.