City profile
Cary, NC
Wake County · Population 179,306
Cary is a city in Wake County, NC with about 179,306 residents and a typical home value near $580,000. It is 10 miles from Raleigh, NC, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Mild & temperate
Winter avg
42°F
Summer avg
79°F
Sunny days / yr
215
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$580,200
Typical monthly housing
$3,563
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
119
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.85%
- State income tax (top)
- 4.25%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 96/100
Top hazards: Hail, Riverine flooding, Heat wave
Nearest major airport
7 mi to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 62% Democratic / 36% Republican
Community
Population
179,306
Black population
7.9%
County
Wake County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸NC is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hurricanes (coast), inland flooding
Highlights
- About 179,306 residents
- Typical home value about $580,000
- 10 miles from Raleigh, NC
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.