Cary, NC vs Orlando, FL
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
Orlando
68.7
#1298 nationally
Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $57,891). Orlando leads in walk score (42 vs 28). Orlando leads in cost of living index (101 vs 125).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 68.7 (#1298) |
| Population | 180,010 | 320,742 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $374,196 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $57,891 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 27.4 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 42 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 101 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+13.6 |
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+
68.7 Score
Orlando, FL
Theme park capital with growing diversity
Median Home
$374,196
Population
320,742
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Orlando, FL →