| City | Population | Overall Score | Amenities Rank | Standard of Life Rank | Crime Rank | Unemployment Rank | Commute Rank | Overall Score |
| Cary | 141,292 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2.40 |
| Morrisville | 19,720 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2.40 |
| Apex | 39,134 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2.60 |
| Holly Springs | 26,035 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3.00 |
| Wake Forest | 31,632 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 3.80 |
| Knightdale | 12,133 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 5.00 |
| Rolesville | 4,065 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 5.20 |
| Clayton | 16,648 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6.20 |
| Zebulon | 4,535 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 8.00 |
| Wendell | 5,996 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 8.00 |
| Garner | 26,213 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 8.00 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 19,164 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8.40 |