10 Things to Know BEFORE Moving to Cary, NC (2025)

Living in Cary

Are you moving to Cary, NC? Here are ten great reasons why people love living in Cary! 

Cary is a great city for anyone looking to live in a top-rated town with excellent schools, weather, and amenities. It's no wonder everyone is moving to Cary, NC. 

Every individual has unique preferences and needs when finding the perfect living place. Contact us today so we can learn more about your specific situation and provide personalized assistance tailored just for you. Reach out now to get started on finding your ideal home at 919-249-8536!

Here are ten reasons why you will love living in Cary

There are many reasons someone would want to move to Cary, whether it's for the area, the great schools, the weather, or maybe the fact that Raleigh is ranked as the best place to raise a family.

Check out the available homes for sale in Cary.

1. Community - Living in Cary 

The community of people living in Cary, NC, is part of what makes the area unique. The city of Cary has tripled in size in the last 25 years, growing by more than 100,000 residents (up from 45,000 in 1990), creating a highly diversified community that people love to call home. With a population of over 180,010 people, Cary is a growing area that attracts families, young professionals, and retirees. 

Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre hosts various events, including outdoor concerts, fun family movies, and the annual Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival. Downtown Cary is a quaint, picturesque part of town that also offers celebrations for every holiday and brings the community together on spring and summer nights. With a calendar of events that capture every interest, meeting your neighbors who turn into lifelong friends at Downtown Cary Park is easy.  

The Town of Cary website is excellent for learning more about the community and its values. There are even multiple beautiful wedding venues where many couples decide to have their ceremony and reception. 

2. People Who Live in Cary 

Your neighbors matter, and the people who live in Cary, NC, are some of the best. Cary Real Estate and Chapel Hill Real Estate have some of the highest price points in the Triangle area and North Carolina.

With excellent schools and convenience to Research Triangle Park, Downtown Raleigh, Durham, and the Raleigh Durham International Airport, Cary is in a fantastic location near sought-after amenities. People are moving to Cary in bunches over the last 25 years as the population has grown from 45,000 to over 180,000 and is climbing fast. The people moving to Cary, NC, didn't typically grow up in the area and are instead moving from all over the world. 

If you're moving to Cary from a state along the I-95 corridor or the Golden Coast, you'll love how generally happy the people are. The people who move to Cary usually seek a better quality of life, whether it's the weather, the affordability, or the great sense of community. 

Check out some of the best neighborhoods in Cary. 

3. Education - Schools in Cary, NC 

Education is the foundation of a family community as strong as Cary's. The schools are some of the best in the nation, and they are an excellent reason to make a move.

Education is a priority for everyone in the Triangle area, with some of the world's outstanding universities nearby, including Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. There are also several private schools in the area, like Cary Academy and Chesterbrook Academy, to name a few.

If you're looking for an excellent education, it's hard to beat the schools offered in Cary. Green Level, Green Hope, and Panther Creek High School are two of the top schools in the area, and many home shoppers will search specifically within these school districts.

4. Jobs in the Cary Area 

The Cary area was ranked number three in the United States for its job market, according to SmartAsset. Ranking high for remote work and low unemployment, many people are relocating to the area precisely because of job transfers.

MetLife just placed its technology headquarters in Cary, and RTP is just down the street. The location of Cary to the airport makes commuting to other states easy. Cary is a 10-15 minute ride to Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

With a focus on technology, healthcare, and education, companies like Google, SAS, IBM, Cisco, Apple, and more are calling the area home. Part of the attraction is that there are better tax incentives for these companies in North Carolina.

5. Safety in the Town of Cary 

Cary, North Carolina, is constantly ranked as one of the safest places to live. Rated as one of the safest cities in the southeast, Cary was ranked number 18 on a list of the safest cities in the country in 2023. Part of what makes Cary so safe is directly correlated with the area's beautiful real estate, great jobs, schools, and weather.

Crime stays low when people can live a comfortable lifestyle with great educational systems and opportunities. One of the priorities when moving to a new location is always safety, and Cary, NC, is about as safe as possible. With a crime rate of 13.65 per 1,000 residents, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Cary is very low. 

Here are Cary's annual crime rates: 

	Violent Crime	Property Crime	Total Crime
Number of Crimes	192	2,265	2,457
Crime Rate per 1,000 residents	1.07	12.58	13.65

Here are your chances of becoming a victim of crime in Cary vs. the rest of North Carolina: 

Crime Type	Cary	North Carolina
Violent Crime	one in 938	one in 256
Property Crime	one in 79	one in 48

 *Data Sourced from NeighborhoodScout. 

6. Raising a Family in Cary 

One of the main reasons people are moving to Cary, NC, is to raise a family. Forbes ranked the Raleigh area as the best place to raise a family. This aligns with everything the town of Cary stands for regarding its values. It's large enough to be a city, yet it keeps that small-town neighborhood feel.

If you're raising a family in the Cary, NC, area, you'll want to know the best neighborhoods. Apex, Cary's neighbor, is another excellent place to raise a family. Both cities have great school systems and affordable homes and are constantly ranked as the country's top 10 places to live.

7. Weather in Cary 

The climate is important when choosing a place to live. Northerners tend to move to North Carolina to escape the grueling winters, and Southerners enjoy the change in seasons. Here in the Triangle, the warmer weather stays longer, and winters are generally mild.

Snowstorms are few and far between; sorry to the kids accustomed to many snow days. Fall makes having some of the best parks and outdoor recreational venues enjoyable. Check out Fred G Bond Metro Park for incredible lake views, and the changing color of the leaves makes the trails more pleasing to walk or run around.

If it snows in Cary, there's a good chance it will be gone within a day, as it doesn't typically stay cold enough for snow to stick around for too long. The good news for skiiers and snowboarders is that the mountains are close. Take a trip to the North Carolina mountains and you'll know exactly what we are talking about.

8. Affordability of Homes for Sale in Cary, NC 

Although the homes in Cary may be less affordable than those in most areas surrounding Raleigh, they remain affordable compared to the rest of the country. It's an excellent town with great family neighborhoods and amenities.

Real estate in Cary, NC, is the most desirable in the Triangle area, largely thanks to the convenience of traveling, the great schools, and the area amenities. Many people who are moving to the Raleigh, NC, area live in Cary. Some of our favorite neighborhoods in Cary are the Preston, MacGregor, and Regency neighborhoods.

Many people moving to Cary also wonder what the cost of living is. It's less than the national average in many categories, making Cary a great value relative to the average income. The median houshold income is $129,399. 

Cost of Living Item	Average Cost of Living in Cary, NC
Median Rent	$1,947/month
Phone Bill	$181.73/month
Energy Bill	$187.87/month
Gas	$3.13/gallon
Doctor's Visit	$156.89

*Data sourced from Payscale. 

9. Location of Cary 

Cary, NC, offers an excellent location for almost everything you could want. It's the most centrally located area between Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and RTP. It's also conveniently located on several highways, making jumping on the interstate a breeze. You can be at the beach or mountains in less than two hours.

Part of the reason Cary is one of the most desirable towns in the Raleigh-Durham area is its location. This helps drive the prices of homes and all real estate in the Cary area. The plan to finish the I-540 will make traveling from West Cary easier.

10. Golf and Country Clubs in Cary, NC 

If you love golf, you're going to love moving to Cary. People live for golf in the Cary area, and the town is home to some of the best Country Clubs in the United States. 

Additionally, Pinehurst, NC, is only an hour-long drive away (where the U.S. Open is held). Some of the golf course communities in the Cary area include MacGregor, Preston, and Lochmere. 

Living in Cary, NC

Life in Cary lives up to the town's accolades and national rankings. The large town is one of the best places to live in the country. Bond Brothers Beer Company is ranked the #1 Brewery in the Triangle, and the best restaurants in Cary are some of the best in North Carolina. Offering a family-friendly atmosphere, running clubs, and food trucks, it is a hot spot for locals to frequent any evening.

Breakfast lovers would enjoy La Farm Bakery since it is notorious for craft coffee beverages and a variety of bread, while Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen is the place to go for traditional Southern cooking. Whether you're looking for conventional shrimp and grits, pulled pork, or extensive salad and sandwich options, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Cary Crossroads Plaza is your one-stop shopping center for all of your needs. Target, Harris Teeter, Old Navy, and Dick's Sporting Goods are just a few stores in the plaza. There's a lot to love about living in North Carolina, and Cary is one of the many reasons.

When Cary isn't winning awards, you can be sure the neighbors are, Apex was recently ranked as the #1 best place to live in the country by Money Magazine. Holly Springs is another area to check out as it continues building neighborhoods, schools, and amenities. 

Methodology 

Factors such as the affordability of homes, cost of living, education, job market, community and safety were considered when determining the top things to know about moving to Cary, NC. Data and information were sourced from the Town of Cary, the U.S. Census Bureau, NeighborhoodScout, Payscale, and local cary businesses. 

FAQs

Is Cary, NC, good for retirees?

Cary is considered a great place to retire since it features a mild climate, low crime rate, golf courses, beautiful real estate, retirement communities, and plenty of parks and recreational facitlites. 

Who is the largest employer in Cary, NC? 

Ranked among the top places to work or start a business, the biggest employer in Cary, NC, is SAS Institute Inc., which is the largest privately held software company in the world. 

Is Cary a walkable city? 

Downtown Cary is considered moderatley walkable since it is anchored by Downtown Cary Park and features a pedestrian friendly enviornment with many local shops, restaurants, breweries, and entertainment venues. 

Final Thoughts on Moving to Cary, NC

There is a reason why the homes for sale in Cary go for more on average than in any other city in the Triangle. With proximity to RDU, RTP, Raleigh, and Durham and only two hours to Charlotte or the beach, Cary is right in the middle. 

The town's education system, location, and general desirability have increased real estate prices. There are many pros and only a few cons to moving to Cary, NC, especially for those without jobs. Cary will be one of the best places to find a job. Even with so many folks moving to the area, jobs have grown faster. 

When you're ready to talk to a Realtor, please get in touch with us. We are here to help and answer any questions.