Cary NC vs Sparks NV — 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%

Sparks, NV

Nevada · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$530,668
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Cary
176,686
Sparks
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cary
N/A
Sparks
N/A
Median Age
Cary
39.8
Sparks
N/A
Foreign Born
Cary
23.7%
Sparks
N/A
White
Cary
60.1%
Sparks
N/A
Black
Cary
7.6%
Sparks
N/A
Asian
Cary
20.4%
Sparks
N/A
Hispanic
Cary
9.3%
Sparks
N/A
Spanish at Home
Cary
N/A
Sparks
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cary
$129,399
Sparks
N/A
Per Capita Income
Cary
$64,590
Sparks
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cary
$59,120
Sparks
$62,696
Sparks +
Unemployment Rate
Cary
3.4%
Sparks
N/A
Poverty Rate
Cary
5.3%
Sparks
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Cary
70.2%
Sparks
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cary
$629,864
Sparks
$530,668
Sparks +
Homeownership Rate
Cary
66.3%
Sparks
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cary
398
Cary +
Sparks
460
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cary
1999
Cary +
Sparks
2417

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cary
25.3%
Cary +
Sparks
28.6%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cary
8.6%
Cary +
Sparks
9.8%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cary
12.8%
Cary +
Sparks
18.1%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cary
6.2%
Cary +
Sparks
13.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cary
14.3%
Cary +
Sparks
18.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cary
7.7%
Cary +
Sparks
12.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cary
59.4°F
Sparks
52.4°F
Sparks +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cary
46.3 in
Sparks
8.3 in
Sparks +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cary
8.7 µg/m³
Sparks
5.2 µg/m³
Sparks +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cary
75.0%
Sparks
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cary
24.3 min
Sparks
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Sparks offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $530,668. On public safety, Cary is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 460 in Sparks. Sparks has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Cary scores better with a lower obesity rate of 25.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Cary & Sparks