Cary, NC vs Princeton, NJ
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
Princeton
68.6
#1306 nationally
Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 192). Princeton leads in crime level (1.3 vs 1.9). Princeton leads in median household income ($176,695 vs $125,317).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Princeton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 68.6 (#1306) |
| Population | 180,010 | 30,289 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $979,905 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $176,695 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 23.7 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 192 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+33.9 |
Data coverage note: Princeton 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 →
D+
68.6 Score
Princeton, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$979,905
Population
30,289
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$176,695
Northeast
View Princeton, NJ →