Cary, NC vs Santa Clara, 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
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 5.0). Santa Clara leads in walk score (58 vs 28). Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 241).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 65.7 (#1617) |
| Population | 180,010 | 131,062 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $1,680,833 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $165,352 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 23.6 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 5.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 241 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+40.0 |
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 →
D
65.7 Score
Santa Clara, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,680,833
Population
131,062
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Santa Clara, CA →