Cary, NC vs Lafayette, 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
Lafayette
62.7
#1832 nationally
Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 280). Lafayette leads in median household income ($219,250 vs $125,317). Cary leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 29.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Lafayette, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 62.7 (#1832) |
| Population | 180,010 | 25,048 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $1,941,109 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $219,250 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 29.7 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 26 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 280 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+38.0 |
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-
62.7 Score
Lafayette, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,941,109
Population
25,048
Crime
Low
Walk Score
26
Pacific
View Lafayette, CA →