Cary, NC vs Sunnyvale, 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
Sunnyvale
66.4
#1551 nationally
Sunnyvale leads in walk score (54 vs 28). Cary leads in cost of living index (125 vs 205). Sunnyvale leads in median household income ($168,924 vs $125,317).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cary, NC | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#924) | 66.4 (#1551) |
| Population | 180,010 | 155,805 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,913 | $2,050,814 |
| Median Household Income | $125,317 | $168,924 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 54 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 8.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+40.0 |
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
66.4 Score
Sunnyvale, CA
Heart of tech innovation
Median Home
$2,050,814
Population
155,805
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Pacific
View Sunnyvale, CA →