Cary, NC vs North Plainfield, NJ
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
North Plainfield
69.3
#1229 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 4.2). North Plainfield leads in walk score (58 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $81,219).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | North Plainfield, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 69.3 (#1229) |
| Population | 180,010 | 22,566 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $504,829 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $81,219 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 32.1 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 124 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+13.9 |
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+
69.3 Score
North Plainfield, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$504,829
Population
22,566
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Northeast
View North Plainfield, NJ →
Try a different matchup
Swap Cary for:
Swap North Plainfield for: