Population 164,985 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cary
Household size in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.73 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.70 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Cary sits close to the national average of 2.65. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.8 | 35.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 36.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.3 | 38.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.1 | +2.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Cary is 41.9 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.8 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.2% of households in Cary, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Cary has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cary
Renters in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 32.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.0% | 33.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.4% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 33.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Cary is about as common as it is nationally: 33.8% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 30.6% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.5 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 8.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 7.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 7.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Cary than nationally: 6.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.0 points, mirroring the country. Cary has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1994 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1994 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1999 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Cary has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1998, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1993 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,114 | $923 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,212 | $1,018 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,458 | $1,207 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,914 | $1,666 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$800 | +$743 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cary pays $1,914 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $800 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cary
Bachelor's degrees in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.5% | 41.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 63.0% | 43.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 68.3% | 47.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.5% | 51.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +9.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Cary is highly educated: about seven in ten adults 25 and older (70.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only three have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.2% | 89.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.6% | 90.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.3% | 92.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.1% | 93.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Cary: 96.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 26 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cary
| Period | Cary | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 6.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cary runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.1 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cary compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cary | 2.66 | 41.9 | 7.2% | 33.8% | 6.0% | 1998 | $1,914 | 70.5% | 96.1% | 3.4% |
| Morrisville | 2.47 | 34.9 | 6.0% | 55.3% | 8.9% | 2008 | $1,900 | 73.3% | 96.8% | 3.1% |
| Apex | 2.82 | 38.6 | 7.7% | 20.4% | 6.0% | 2007 | $2,170 | 70.5% | 97.5% | 2.8% |
| Holly Springs | 3.00 | 37.8 | 7.1% | 18.6% | 4.8% | 2008 | $2,273 | 65.7% | 95.9% | 3.5% |
| New Hill | 3.37 | 31.3 | 4.2% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 2014 | $2,738 | 67.0% | 98.6% | 11.4% |
| Raleigh area | 2.64 | 38.4 | 9.4% | 33.4% | 7.6% | 1999 | $1,666 | 51.6% | 93.3% | 4.1% |
| Hollemans Crossroads | 2.81 | 49.9 | 9.8% | 2.3% | 14.9% | 1994 | $1,123 | 50.3% | 88.2% | 1.8% |
| Pine Hurst Park | 2.64 | 48.3 | 4.7% | 4.8% | 2.8% | 1988 | $1,567 | 56.5% | 98.7% | 0.5% |
| Fearrington | 2.52 | 45.0 | 10.5% | 15.5% | 5.5% | 2001 | $2,052 | 65.8% | 99.6% | 1.2% |
| Garner | 2.65 | 39.3 | 9.8% | 28.3% | 6.8% | 2000 | $1,593 | 41.9% | 93.3% | 5.3% |
| Haywood | 2.66 | 41.4 | 10.7% | 9.6% | 35.6% | 1998 | $1,123 | 47.2% | 94.5% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Charleston, WV · Champaign, IL · Charlottesville, VA · Chapel Hill, NC · Chesapeake, VA · Charleston, SC · Cheyenne, WY · Clarksville, TN · Chicago, IL · Alexandria, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cary. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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