Cary, IL

Census place 1711592 · pop 17,923

C62/ 100
😐 Meh
B
in IL
📍 Illinois ranks #39 of 50 states →
🏆 Broadband97.8% · top 4%
🚽 Prop tax2.61% · bottom 3%
Taxes
2.61% property · US 0.99%8.96% sales · US 7.00%4.95% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.61%3

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.61% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Rent$2,636/mo14

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,636/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time28 min23

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Population growth (5yr)-0.1%29

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-0.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$309,80045

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$309,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Air quality (AQI)County-level43 AQI51

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

43 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level86/10055

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

86/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Adult obesity31.1%72

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

31.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poor mental health15.2%76

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Bachelor's degree or higher44.7%76

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

44.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking10.4%77

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

10.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Income inequality0.4077

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Median household income$113,02683

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$113,026 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Property crime rate477/100k84

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

477 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults6.0%85

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

6.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Physical inactivity18.2%87

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

18.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate4.8%88

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

4.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership84.8%92

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

84.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Violent crime rate11/100k92

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

11 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Broadband access97.8%96

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

97.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Frequently asked

Is Cary, IL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Cary scores 62/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is broadband access and its weakest is property-tax burden. Illinois overall ranks #39 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Cary, IL?
Cary reports 11 violent crimes per 100k and 477 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Cary, IL expensive to live in?
Cary has a median home value of $309,800 and typical rent around $2,636/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Cary, IL?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.61%) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Cary, IL best at?
Its strongest measured area is broadband access (97.8%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.