Cary NC vs Springdale 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%

Springdale, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$339,383
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

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

Economy

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

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cary
$629,864
Springdale
$339,383
Springdale +
Homeownership Rate
Cary
66.3%
Springdale
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cary
398
Cary +
Springdale
660
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cary
1999
Cary +
Springdale
2507

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cary
25.3%
Cary +
Springdale
39.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cary
8.6%
Cary +
Springdale
12.3%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cary
12.8%
Cary +
Springdale
19.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cary
6.2%
Cary +
Springdale
21.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cary
14.3%
Cary +
Springdale
15.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cary
7.7%
Cary +
Springdale
16.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cary
59.4°F
Springdale
56.6°F
Springdale +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cary
46.3 in
Cary +
Springdale
47.9 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cary
8.7 µg/m³
Cary +
Springdale
9.5 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cary
75.0%
Cary +
Springdale
55.0%

Commute

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

Which City is Right for You?

Springdale offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $339,383. On public safety, Cary is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Springdale. 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%.

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About Cary & Springdale