Raleigh, 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.
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Sunnyvale
66.4
#1551 nationally
Sunnyvale leads in median household income ($168,924 vs $82,424). Raleigh leads in cost of living index (105 vs 205). Sunnyvale leads in walk score (54 vs 31).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71 (#1035) | 66.4 (#1551) |
| Population | 470,763 | 155,805 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $435,237 | $2,050,814 |
| Median Household Income | $82,424 | $168,924 |
| Average Commute | 24.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Walk Score | 31 | 54 |
| Crime Level | 32.0 | Low |
| School Rating | 7.5 | 8.6 |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+25.6 | D+40.0 |
C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, 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 →