Median Age
41 Years
Largest Age Group
40-49 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
16%
Cary
Cary, NC Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,449
Population
181,195
Renter Mix
36% Rent
One of North Carolina’s fastest growing communities
Affordable
•
Suburb
•
Rail Service
•
Bike-Friendly
•
Welcome to Cary, North Carolina, a suburban community in the Research Triangle region. Located between Raleigh and Durham, Cary combines a relaxed atmosphere with convenient access to major employment centers. The town's extensive park system includes Fred G. Bond Metro Park, spanning 310 acres, and Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, offering three miles of nature trails. Current rental trends show moderate rates, with average one-bedroom apartments at $1,442, though prices have seen a slight decrease of 2.3% over the past year. The rental market spans multiple areas, from Preston and Lochmere to downtown Cary. Established neighborhoods include Kildaire Farms and the Bradford district.
Residents enjoy access to over 30 public parks and natural areas connected by 82 miles of greenways. Entertainment options include outdoor concerts at Koka Booth Amphitheatre and performances at the Cary Arts Center. The town sits minutes from major employers in Research Triangle Park, with companies like SAS Institute and Epic Games maintaining headquarters within Cary's borders. The town's historic significance includes being home to North Carolina's first state-funded public high school, established in 1907. Community events throughout the year include the long-running Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival and the winter North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.
Explore the City
Downtown Cary Park is a popular destination for South Cary residents.
The Cary Tennis Park is host to many big tournaments and local enthusiasts play daily.
Fenton shopping center in Cary has something for the entire family.
You can catch the Amtrak to many destinations from the train station in Cary.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$121,486
Average: $149,845
Education
94,152
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
99,965
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Cary has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
36%
Non-Renters
64%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
48%
Other Education
52%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Cary, NC is $1,448 for a studio, $1,449 for one bedroom, $1,734 for two bedrooms, and $2,087 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cary has decreased by -2.3% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,449/month
789 Sq Ft
House
$2,208/month
1,781 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,759/month
855 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,926/month
1,679 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Cary, NC is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Public
Grades K-12
1,276 Students
Public
Grades K-5
825 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
702 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
720 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
693 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,630 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,459 Students
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Public
Grades K-12
1,276 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
959 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
860 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,435 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,052 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,001 Students
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Public
Grades K-12
1,276 Students
Wake Nc State Univ Stem Early College High School
Public
Grades 9-12
263 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs
- Lake Crabtree County Park
- Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve
- Crowder District Park
- Lake Johnson Nature Park
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Raleigh-Durham International
Top Apartments in Cary
Houses for Rent in Cary
Property Management Companies in Cary, NC
Greystar
-
3,486
Communities
-
959,251
Units
-
891
Cities
25 Communities in Cary
MAA
-
293
Communities
-
101,891
Units
-
116
Cities
8 Communities in Cary
Weinstein Properties
-
61
Communities
-
20,955
Units
-
33
Cities
6 Communities in Cary
Highmark Residential
-
208
Communities
-
60,049
Units
-
114
Cities
5 Communities in Cary
Drucker & Falk
-
163
Communities
-
38,592
Units
-
57
Cities
5 Communities in Cary
Hawthorne Residential Partners
-
248
Communities
-
59,853
Units
-
111
Cities
4 Communities in Cary
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.