Cary, NC vs Foster City, CA
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
Foster City
63.9
#1730 nationally
Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 276). Foster City leads in walk score (50 vs 28). Foster City leads in median household income ($191,267 vs $125,317).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Foster City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 63.9 (#1730) |
| Population | 180,010 | 32,180 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $1,863,228 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $191,267 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 32.4 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 50 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 276 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+50.3 |
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
63.9 Score
Foster City, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,863,228
Population
32,180
Crime
Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Foster City, CA →