Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Cary, NC

    Is Cary a good place to live?

    Watch Cary

    Cary ranks #13 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (61/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.0% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $525,200
    +10.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,621
    per month
    Household income
    $129,399
    median
    Unemployment
    3.4%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Cary

    The median home value in Cary is $525,200 and median rent is $1,621 a month, against a median household income of $129,399. Homes cost about 4.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Cary crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Cary, NC

    Cary has about 176,686 residents, 3.4% unemployment and 37% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Cary with

    Cary vs CharlotteCary vs RaleighCary vs GreensboroCary vs DurhamCary vs Winston-SalemCary vs FayettevilleCary vs WilmingtonCary vs High Point

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report