On the outskirts of Raleigh, Cary is currently ranked as the No. 1 Best Place to Live in North Carolina by Niche.com. Steadily growing since the 1970s, the mid-sized city now has a population around 187,000, but Cary residents identify it as a town because of its hometown feeling. Susana Yourcheck with Flex Realty, who’s been a Realtor for nearly a decade, says, “Cary is large, but it still has this small community feel, which makes it great for any stage of life, from singles to families to retirees.” Incorporated in 1871, Cary maintains historic general stores and original farmsteads. However, having recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, the town has matured into a vast network of picturesque neighborhoods and progressive developments, all within the metropolitan Research Triangle. Residential areas are thoughtfully arranged around lakes and creeks, and three nationally registered historic districts share Cary’s nearly 53,000 acres with groundbreaking projects such as the vibrant Downtown Cary Park — a recreation and retail crown jewel that opened in late 2023.
In its peaceful subdivisions, locals look forward to local high school games and meet at park playgrounds. Yet Cary is also famous for its lively, walkable downtown area, rapidly welcoming new retail, recreation and entertainment options to a footprint where offices and residences are in high-rise buildings. Cary earns accolades from sources such as GoodHire and Niche as one of the safest small cities, most livable communities and best places to start a business nationwide. Analytic company SAS Institute and MetLife Insurance are just two of the major employers here.
Yourcheck adds, “So many companies are establishing in the Cary area because real estate is cheaper than living in California, where you have a long commute. Here, everything you need is 20 minutes away, plus you’re two hours from the mountains and the beach.” The town is also around 11 miles from Research Triangle Park, where major tech companies like Apple and Google have offices.
In 2017, Cary officials adopted the Imagine Cary Community Plan based on dozens of meetings and unprecedented community feedback. The plan is a living document that shares Cary’s long-term vision for 2040, including ideas for land use, open spaces, bicycle lanes, historic preservation, comprehensive transportation and more. In 2022, the Cary Council officially adopted its new brand tagline: “Live Inspired.”
You can enjoy the Cary Art Museum or Cary Downtown Park with your family.
Cary is home to big businesses within multiple industries making it a great place to call home.
Homes in Weldon Ridge are primarily arranged on curving streets in wooded residential areas.
Modern homes under construction can be seen throughout the Downtown Cary neighborhood.
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Abundant greenways, Bond Park and Hemlock Bluffs
“Cary is a very established community,” adds Yourcheck, “and it’s all connected through the greenways. Besides the central Bond Park and Lake and all the many parks here, you have miles of walking trails around Cary Park. There’s outdoor concerts to enjoy, great pools, and an overall really high quality of life. You can even hike, bike or even ride horseback all the way into Durham on the Tobacco Trail.”
Designated a National Walk-Friendly Community by WFC (Walk Friendly Communities) for its efforts to expand walking opportunities and pedestrian safety, Cary offers more than 30 multi-use greenways, including the nearly 5-mile American Tobacco Trail and the 7-mile Black Creek Greenway. Residents enjoy sports, picnics and playgrounds in more than 30 parks, some with paddle boating, others hosting league games on lighted fields. The 150-acre WakeMed Soccer Park is home to the North Carolina Football Club and North Carolina Courage, and numerous ACC and NCAA championships. In 2023, Cary approved plans for a $75 million sports complex for youth, collegiate and amateur sporting events. Nearby, the Carolina Hurricanes professional hockey team is based in Raleigh.
Wilder escapes include the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, stretching 140 acres and featuring the largest stand of hemlock trees east of the Continental Divide. Hikers explore its 3-mile trail system, dotted with scenic overlooks.
You can enjoy walking along the trails at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary.
Bond Park in Cary is a fun place to enjoy walking, boating and more with your family.
West Cary residents enjoy old growth forests at Hemlock Bluffs Preserve.
Fred G. Bond Metro Park is one of the largest parks in Wake County near Downtown Cary.
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Dynamic Downtown Cary Park and Fenton
Downtown Cary Park opened in late 2023 in the heart of downtown. Unlike any retail-recreation amenity in the Triangle, its playground and dog park feature green infrastructure from rain gardens to bioswales, which manages a vital urban watershed while serving as interactive amenities. A series of outdoor rooms connect via curving pathways, and a massive Great Lawn anchors the park. It’s designed to encourage community engagement through year-round programming, including movies, exhibitions, art classes, concerts and more. The Market 317 is the hotspot for lattes and restaurants in the park, while the Bark Bar offers beverages near the Barkyard dog park.
Cary’s varied culinary scene also includes a brand-new brewery-entertainment concept, the West End Biergarten, launched by Vicious Fishes Brewery and South Line Brewing Company. Fine dining is found at Herons, one of only 64 Forbes Five-Star restaurants worldwide.
At Fenton, a popular mixed-use development, local shops open-air at Fenton Mall’s several dozen brand-name stores, dine at more than 10 eateries, or catch movies at the Paragon Theater.
Anywhere in Cary, residents are always close to well-known grocery stores. However, many head to the Cary Downtown Farmers Market on Saturdays for locally grown food and artisan goods.
Cary Downtown Park is a hot spot for families to enjoy all year round.
There is something to do for all ages at Cary Downtown Park.
Fenton is one of the newest shopping centers in Cary and boasts top stores and restaurants.
Fenton in Cary has a wide range of stores, eateries and housing options.
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Contemporary single-family to chic Downtown Park condos
Due to its desirability, the housing market here is competitive. Cary sports a variety of home architecture, from luxurious new construction to nationally registered historic Victorians to barn styles with long porches and rustic metal roofs. In Central Cary, homebuyers can find townhouses built from 1999 through 2011 priced between $350,000 and $550,000. In the $600,000 to $700,000 range, options include 1990s traditional two-stories in Central Cary, new-construction townhouses in West Cary, or 2011 two-stories in South Cary. Yards are smaller, especially compared to other Raleigh suburbs such as Clayton and Wake Forest. Older homes are beginning to be torn down to make room for new builds.
New to Cary’s residential mix is a community of high-end townhouse-style condos starting around $1 million in Downtown Cary Park. Some of Cary’s highest-priced homes are concentrated around the new Downtown Cary Park or in South Cary near Symphony Lake and Greenway. These upscale communities often have homeowner associations and amenities like golf courses or tennis courts. A rare 10-acre haven on Anna Lake Lane can ask for more than $9 million. The median price in Cary is around $578,000, which is higher than in Raleigh or Durham, where the median price hovers around $420,000.
Yourcheck adds, “A fascinating development on the horizon in nearby Chatham County is a new 1,500-acre Asteria community by Disney. It’s just minutes from Cary and is expecting to attract 60,000 new residents to the area in the next few years.”
You can enjoy beautiful Farmhouse Style homes within the city of Cary.
You can find Victorian Style homes within the city of Cary.
Town homes line the side of the Downtown Cary Park in Downtown Cary.
New homes line the streets of Downtown Cary near the park
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Highly rated Wake County Schools, NC State University
The public Wake County School District earns an A Niche grade and serves nearly 160,000 students in more than 190 schools across Cary. Like the district, most Wake County schools earn an A or higher on Niche, with only a few B and C grades. Green Hope High in West Cary earns an A-plus on Niche, and its standout athletic program includes a women’s tennis team that won the AAAA state championship for three consecutive years. In 2022, Green Hope's women’s basketball team welcomed WNBA player Chasity Melvin as their new head coach. In 2024, Niche named Wake County Schools the No. 7 best school district out of North Carolina’s nearly 200 districts. However, it’s common for highly rated schools here to be capped once they reach capacity and students are reassigned to alternative base schools.
Students may also be assigned to Chatham County or Durham County schools. Cary enjoys proximity to several highly regarded universities. From central Cary, residents can reach North Carolina State University in under 10 miles going east and both University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Duke University within around 20 miles going west and north respectively.
Green Hope High School is ranked 26th within North Carolina.
Alston Ridge Middle is a public school located in Cary, NC.
According to Niche.Com, Carpenter Elementary has a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
Panther Creek High serves over 2400 students in the Cary, NC area.
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Easy I-40 Access, GoCary and GoTriangle transit
Car commuters have access to U.S. Route 64, the Highway 54 Bypass, Interstate 540 and Interstate 40 — which leads north from downtown to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport within about 8 miles. From central Cary, residents can reach downtown Raleigh in 12 miles, which can take 30 minutes during rush hour, and downtown Durham in 20 miles, which can be a 40-minute commute or more, depending on your address. Public transit is available via GoCary and GoTriangle bus service along major corridors, and there's an Amtrak stop at Cary Depot on North Academy Street.
Busier areas have bike lanes protected by raised curbs and planted buffers, and others offer spatial buffers. Proposals are underway for additional bike lanes along Louis Stephens Drive and Hortons Creek and Carpenter Fire Station roads.
Very low crime rate recently on the rise
According to the State Bureau of Investigations, crime in Cary rose 15% between 2021 and 2022, which is less than Fayetteville’s 14% but more than Raleigh’s 7% jump, primarily driven by property crimes such as vehicle theft and burglary.
FBI Crime Data for 2019 shows Cary has a violent crime rate of 0.07% and a property crime rate of 0.09%. Raleigh has a violent crime rate of 0.26% and a property crime rate of 1.78%.
Art Daze and Film Festivals, Downtown Christmas Parade
Two of Cary’s most popular annual events are Spring Daze and Lazy Daze festivals, celebrating local crafts, foods and music in Bond Park with a market, exhibits and hands-on workshops. The historic Cary Theater is a go-to for movie lovers, especially during the annual Cary Film Festival, where filmmakers, industry professionals and attendees gather for panel discussions, workshops and previews. Regency Park is home to the Koka Booth Amphitheatre, which hosts both local and national artists and serves as a venue for community events like Oktoberfest.
Local parks host tons of events from Valentines' Day Jazz to Arbor Day tree giveaways. “Our downtown Christmas parade is really popular during the holidays,” Yourcheck says. “And the streets are all lined with lit trees.”
Spring Daze, where Cary comes alive with arts, crafts, food music.
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival is a family-oriented event in downtown Cary.
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival has between 50,000 to 60,000 visitors in downtown Cary.
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in downtown Cary has a variety of art from over 300 artist.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
