Raleigh-Cary receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Raleigh-Cary
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs87 · Top 2%
Growth
83 · Top 4%
vs65 · Top 24%
Climate
72 · Top 33%
vs75 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
70 · Top 31%
vs69 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 35%
vs78 · Bottom 27%
Access
90 · Top 38%
vs90 · Top 37%
Economic stability
90 · Top 6%
vs83 · Top 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Raleigh-Cary | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,487,302 | 6,256,377 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $100,103 | $89,724 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,873 | $46,309 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 702/sq mi | 712/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $418,400 | $367,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,573 | $1,672 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 66.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 42.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 11.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 18,633 | 33,796 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 12.5 | 5.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.0% | -7.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 50.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 33.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.2 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Your best match
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Raleigh-Cary
83
Your Score
82
Area Score
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
78
Your Score
78
Area Score
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Full profiles: Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area · Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology