| Measure | RaleighNorth Carolina, United States Remove Raleigh | Fredericksburg (VA)Virginia, United States Remove Fredericksburg (VA) |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 7.3 | 5.8 |
| Connector Score | 8.4 | 7.1 |
| Safety | 6.3 | 5.0 |
| Affordability | 6.2 | 5.5 |
| Transportation | 10.0 | 7.5 |
| Car-free friendliness | 8.5 | 7.0 |
| Walkability | 8.3 | 7.6 |
| Things to do | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Food & dining | 6.9 | 5.5 |
| Places to stay | 6.7 | 5.3 |
| Nature & outdoors | 5.5 | 3.5 |
| Scenic value | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Family friendliness | 5.3 | 4.5 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 6.8 | 5.6 |
| Nightlife | 8.3 | 3.2 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 6.2 | 4.8 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 8.0 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $174 | $120 |
| Mid-range | $278 | $178 |
| Luxury | $533 | $299 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 103 | 110 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,209 | $1,650 |
| Median home price | $485,000 | $448,000 |
| Population | 503K | 30K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Bus Airport | Drive Train Ferry |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Raleigh | — | 4 h 24 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Car-free travel, Nightlife, History | Car-free travel, History |
| Known for | National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Nightlife, Live music | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Shopping |
| When to go | — | Peak: Spring and fall |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.