Cary, NC vs San Diego, 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
San Diego
65.3
#1643 nationally
San Diego leads in walk score (52 vs 28). Cary leads in median household income ($125,317 vs $89,457). Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 165).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 65.3 (#1643) |
| Population | 180,010 | 1,388,320 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $994,682 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $89,457 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 25.4 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 52 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | Moderate-Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 165 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+16.8 |
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
65.3 Score
San Diego, CA
America's Finest City
Median Home
$994,682
Population
1,388,320
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B
Pacific
View San Diego, CA →