Cary, NC vs Melrose Park, IL
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
Melrose Park
73.7
#688 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 8.3). Melrose Park leads in walk score (68 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $64,400).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Melrose Park, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 73.7 (#688) |
| Population | 180,010 | 23,666 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $326,590 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $64,400 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 68 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 8.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 102 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+42.0 |
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 →
C
73.7 Score
Melrose Park, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$326,590
Population
23,666
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
68
Midwest
View Melrose Park, IL →