Cary, NC vs Long 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
Long Beach
62.3
#1863 nationally
Long Beach leads in walk score (67 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $69,471). Cary leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 28.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 62.3 (#1863) |
| Population | 180,010 | 466,742 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $860,012 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $69,471 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 28.4 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 67 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 142 |
| 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-
62.3 Score
Long Beach, CA
Aquatic playground of Southern California
Median Home
$860,012
Population
466,742
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Long Beach, CA →