Cary, NC vs Imperial Beach, 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
Imperial Beach
62.9
#1815 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 14.8). Imperial Beach leads in walk score (69 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $75,731).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Imperial Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 62.9 (#1815) |
| Population | 180,010 | 25,458 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $844,131 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $75,731 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 27.2 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 69 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 14.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 167 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+16.8 |
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-
62.9 Score
Imperial Beach, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$844,131
Population
25,458
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
69
Pacific
View Imperial Beach, CA →
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