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
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs80 · Top 10%
Growth
83 · Top 4%
vs78 · Top 8%
Climate
72 · Top 33%
vs68 · Top 50%
Physical resilience
70 · Top 31%
vs77 · Top 22%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 35%
vs76 · Bottom 25%
Access
90 · Top 38%
vs95 · Top 27%
Economic stability
90 · Top 6%
vs93 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Raleigh-Cary | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,487,302 | 2,426,592 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $100,103 | $100,431 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,873 | $56,313 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 702/sq mi | 575/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $418,400 | $465,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,573 | $1,726 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 58.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 50.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 9.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 18,633 | 24,059 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 12.5 | 9.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.0% | -16.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 35.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 29.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 36.0 | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Raleigh-Cary
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Raleigh-Cary
83
Your Score
82
Area Score
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
81
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area · Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology