27518 and 27511 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
27518
27511
Opportunity
86 · Top 2%
vs85 · Top 3%
Growth
52 · Top 47%
vs52 · Top 47%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 32%
vs72 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
77 · Bottom 45%
vs86 · Top 40%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs97 · Top 32%
Economic stability
65 · Top 41%
vs62 · Top 46%
Measured values
| Metric | 27518 | 27511 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,735 | 33,221 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $123,488 | $107,860 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $69,623 | $57,681 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,994/sq mi | 2,832/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $632,200 | $456,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,681 | $1,515 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.1% | 66.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 2.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.8% | 58.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 9.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 685 | 685 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.8 | 3.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.0% | -12.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 24.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 46.9 | 42.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.91 | 15.55 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 63.0% | 41.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 27518 — Cary, NC · 27511 — Cary, NC · How this is calculated: methodology