The Town FilesCary, North Carolina
Town in Wake County · population 174,721 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $580,200
- Household income
- $134,905
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.2
Cary is a town of 174,721 people in Wake County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $580,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 98% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 97% of North Carolina towns.
How Cary ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cary is worth $580,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $134,905, which is more affordable than 32% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,738 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cary | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $580,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,738 | $969 |
| Median household income | $134,905 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Cary
| People | Cary | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.9% | — |
| Work from home | 36.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Cary
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cary since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 172 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 124 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 1955.
Severe weather in Wake County since 1996
Wake County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Wake County
Wake County had 653,153 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,807 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Cary itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Cary
33 public schools with 29,541 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panther Creek High | 9-12 | 2,561 | 21.7 |
| Green Level High | 9-12 | 2,149 | 20.3 |
| Cary High | 9-12 | 2,136 | 17.5 |
| Green Hope High | 9-12 | 2,126 | 19.3 |
| Mills Park Middle | 6-8 | 1,628 | 18.5 |
| Alston Ridge Middle | 6-8 | 1,532 | 18.9 |
| Triangle Math and Science Academy (charter) | K-12 | 1,341 | 17.2 |
| Alston Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 1,111 | 15.4 |
| Davis Drive Middle | 6-8 | 997 | 16.9 |
| West Cary Middle | 6-8 | 891 | 17.8 |
| Davis Drive Elementary | K-5 | 820 | 14.4 |
| Reedy Creek Middle | 6-8 | 805 | 15.5 |
Towns near Cary
- Morrisville, NC3.9 mi · 29,630 people · home $518,800
- Apex, NC5.0 mi · 58,780 people · home $576,100
- Holly Springs, NC9.0 mi · 41,239 people · home $535,800
- Raleigh, NC10.8 mi · 467,665 people · home $415,800
- Fuquay-Varina, NC12.2 mi · 34,152 people · home $451,500
- Garner, NC13.3 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Durham, NC14.2 mi · 283,506 people · home $392,800
- Fearrington Village, NC14.4 mi · 2,557 people · home $472,600
Cary questions
Is Cary, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cary scores better for retirees than 53% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 5%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Cary?
The median owner-occupied home in Cary is valued at $580,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,905, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,738 a month.
What is the weather like in Cary?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Cary get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cary since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)