Cary, North Carolina
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Cary.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Cary?
Cary planning snapshot: population 182,659, housing index 147 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $525,200, median rent $1,621, and income near $129,399. Expect 89°F summer highs, 33°F winter lows, and about 24-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 66.1 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 147U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $525,200U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,621U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $129,399U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 66.1per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 89°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Cary compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 182,659City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $129,399Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year65% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 147ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year47% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $525,200City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year73% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,621City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year20% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 24 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 2544% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 66.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)89% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 904.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)71% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 89°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 33°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (34°F)U.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 46.1 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals40% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 247As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Cary grew 33.2% from 137,086 in 2010 to 182,659 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Cary expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Cary's housing cost index is 147 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($525,200 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,621 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 147 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $525,200 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,621 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Cary?
Typical ownership costs center near $525,200, while median gross rent is about $1,621 a month. Against a median household income of $129,399, rent alone is roughly 15% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $525,200
- Median rent $1,621/month
- Median household income $129,399
What is the job market like in Cary?
County unemployment recently ran 3.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Cary is about $129,399 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $129,399
How long is the typical commute in Cary?
Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 25/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 24 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 25/100
Is Cary safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 66.1 per 100k and property about 904.2 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 66.1 per 100k
- Property 904.2 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Cary?
Normals show summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 33°F, about 46.1 inches of rain, and roughly 247 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 89°F
- Winter low 33°F
- 46.1 in rain · 247 sunny days
Piedmont research corridors and coastal storm exposure both matter. Expect summer highs near 89°F and winter lows around 33°F. Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 25/100. Labor-market readings near 3.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 66.1 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
Cary (pop. 182,659) sits in North Carolina. With median income around $129,399 and a cost index of 147, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $525,200 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Cary is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Cary with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Cary town, 1600000US3710740) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Wake County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013722 RALEIGH DURHAM INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10
Canonical profile · All North Carolina cities · Full city index