Cary, NC vs Clive, IA
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
Clive
73.3
#753 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 5.7). Clive leads in cost of living index (110 vs 125). Clive leads in average commute (20.7 min vs 22.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Clive, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 73.3 (#753) |
| Population | 180,010 | 19,005 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $432,260 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $124,908 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 20.7 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 5.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 110 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+10.9 |
Data coverage note: Clive is missing data for 1 metric that Cary has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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
73.3 Score
Clive, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$432,260
Population
19,005
Crime
Moderate-Low
Median Income
$124,908
Midwest
View Clive, IA →