Cary, NC vs Naperville, 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
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Cary leads in crime level (1.9 vs 9.3). Naperville leads in walk score (46 vs 28). Cary leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 29.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 75.7 (#429) |
| Population | 180,010 | 149,424 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $629,473 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $150,937 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 9.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+13.3 |
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
75.7 Score
Naperville, IL
Where families thrive and communities flourish
Median Home
$629,473
Population
149,424
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Midwest
View Naperville, IL →