Cary, NC vs Roanoke, VA
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
Roanoke
69.5
#1203 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 17.0). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $51,523). Roanoke leads in walk score (39 vs 28).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 69.5 (#1203) |
| Population | 180,010 | 97,171 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $283,969 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $51,523 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 20.9 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 39 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 17.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+23.6 |
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+
69.5 Score
Roanoke, VA
Virginia community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$283,969
Population
97,171
Crime
High
Walk Score
39
Northeast
View Roanoke, VA →