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
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
Opportunity
90 · Top 1%
vs78 · Top 14%
Growth
83 · Top 4%
vs72 · Top 15%
Climate
72 · Top 33%
vs68 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
70 · Top 31%
vs69 · Top 32%
Housing affordability
85 · Bottom 35%
vs96 · Top 32%
Access
90 · Top 38%
vs97 · Top 21%
Economic stability
90 · Top 6%
vs84 · Top 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Raleigh-Cary | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,487,302 | 2,130,055 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $100,103 | $79,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,873 | $43,743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 702/sq mi | 521/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $418,400 | $265,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,573 | $1,191 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 66.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.2% | 38.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 18,633 | 12,830 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 12.5 | 6.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 1.0% | 5.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 27.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 36.9 | 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.
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, earthquake.
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
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood
80
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area · Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology