Cary NC vs Jonesboro AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Cary, NC

North Carolina · Population: 176,686

Median HH Income$129,399
Median Home Price$629,864
Unemployment3.4%
Bachelor's+70.2%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Cary

176,686

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Cary

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Cary

39.8

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Cary

23.7%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Cary

60.1%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Cary

7.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Cary

20.4%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Cary

9.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Cary

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	176,686	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	39.8	N/A	-
Foreign Born	23.7%	N/A	-
White	60.1%	N/A	-
Black	7.6%	N/A	-
Asian	20.4%	N/A	-
Hispanic	9.3%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Cary

$129,399

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Cary

$64,590

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Cary

$59,120

Cary +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Cary

3.4%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Cary

5.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Cary

70.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$129,399	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$64,590	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$59,120	$53,714	Cary +
Unemployment Rate	3.4%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	5.3%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	70.2%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Cary

$629,864

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Cary

66.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$629,864	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	66.3%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cary

398

Cary +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Cary

1999

Cary +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	398	660	Cary +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1999	2507	Cary +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Cary

25.3%

Cary +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Cary

8.6%

Cary +

Jonesboro

11.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Cary

12.8%

Cary +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Cary

6.2%

Cary +

Jonesboro

11.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Cary

14.3%

Cary +

Jonesboro

15.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Cary

7.7%

Cary +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	25.3%	39.2%	Cary +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	8.6%	11.4%	Cary +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	12.8%	20.5%	Cary +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	6.2%	11.6%	Cary +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	14.3%	15.1%	Cary +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	7.7%	15.7%	Cary +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cary

59.4°F

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Cary

46.3 in

Cary +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.4°F	59.2°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	46.3 in	48.2 in	Cary +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Cary

8.7 µg/m³

Cary +

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Cary

75.0%

Cary +

Jonesboro

55.0%

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.7 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Cary +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Cary +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Cary

24.3 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Cary, NC	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	24.3 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Cary is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Cary has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cary scores better with a lower obesity rate of 25.3%.

Compare More Cities

Cary, NC vs New York, NY Cary, NC vs Los Angeles, CA Cary, NC vs Chicago, IL Cary, NC vs Houston, TX Cary, NC vs Phoenix, AZ Cary, NC vs Philadelphia, PA

About Cary & Jonesboro

View Cary NC Profile →View Jonesboro AR Profile →