Cary, NC vs Charlotte, NC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Cary
72.1
#924 nationally
Charlotte
68.1
#1344 nationally
Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $71,659). Charlotte leads in cost of living index (102 vs 125). Cary leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 27.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 68.1 (#1344) |
| Population | 180,010 | 897,720 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $397,231 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $71,659 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 27.1 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 26 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 102 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+32.9 |
C-
72.1 Score
Cary, NC
Mid-size North Carolina city with community character
Median Home
$628,913
Population
180,010
Crime
Low
Walk Score
28
Southeast
View Cary, NC →
D+
68.1 Score
Charlotte, NC
Banking capital of the South
Median Home
$397,231
Population
897,720
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Charlotte, NC →