Cary, NC
Census place 3710740 · pop 179,306
A fast-growing Research Triangle tech suburb consistently ranked among the safest cities in the U.S.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$580,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,771/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
66.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.71% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+7.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
63/100 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.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
5.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
6.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
96.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
25.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$134,905 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
7.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
12.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
15.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
70.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Not measured for Cary: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Cary, NC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Cary scores 72/100 — a B (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is bachelor's degree or higher and its weakest is housing cost. North Carolina overall ranks #16 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Cary, NC expensive to live in?
- Cary has a median home value of $580,200 and typical rent around $1,771/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Cary, NC?
- Its weakest measured area is housing cost ($580,200) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Cary, NC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (70.5%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: A fast-growing Research Triangle tech suburb consistently ranked among the safest cities in the U.S.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.