Cary NC
North Carolina · Pop. 179,306
Cary, NC: median household income of $134,905, median rent of $1,738/mo, 3.5% unemployment. Our verdict: Solid Choice.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$134,905
per year
Median Rent
$1,738
per month
Median Home
$580k
home value
Unemployment
3.5%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
5.7%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
22 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Cary, NC Reality Check"
In Cary, the rent-to-income burden runs around 15% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $134,905 and median rent is $1,738/month. 37% of renters spend 30%+ of income on housing — above the national average. Median home value: $580,200 — that's 4.3× the median income. 67% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. 71% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. Employment picture: 3.45% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 5.7%. Average commute: 22 minutes — acceptable. Cary was founded in 1750 — that's 276 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 55.4 sq miles at 3,234 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 479 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 80/100 — Solid Choice.