Cary, NC vs Niles, 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
Niles
74.4
#599 nationally
Niles leads in walk score (65 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $75,783). Niles leads in crime level (1.5 vs 1.9).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Niles, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 74.4 (#599) |
| Population | 180,010 | 29,513 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $422,795 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $75,783 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 28.2 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 115 |
| 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
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C
74.4 Score
Niles, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$422,795
Population
29,513
Crime
Low
Walk Score
65
Midwest
View Niles, IL →