Cary, NC
What Cary is actually like
Cary is North Carolina's 7th-largest city, with 174,721 residents at the 2020 census and an estimated 180,010 as of 2023 (Wikipedia) -- a scale and level of planning well beyond a typical Raleigh suburb, with 68.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
That education level tracks directly to Cary's employer base. SAS Institute, the world's largest privately-held software company, is headquartered here with 4,024 employees, and Cary is also home to major offices for MetLife, Verizon Business, Siemens Medical Solutions, Epic Games, and Garmin -- a dense cluster of tech, biotech, and corporate employers that makes Cary one of the primary job centers in the Triangle in its own right, not just a bedroom community for Raleigh (Wikipedia).
That employer base has also shaped Cary's demographics and civic landmarks: the Sri Venkateswara Temple's 87-foot Rajagopuram, the tallest of its kind in the U.S., reflects the town's large South Asian population, while the Page-Walker Hotel and Arts Center (built around 1868) and the surrounding Cary Historic District preserve the town's pre-tech-boom, railroad-era downtown.
Home values in Cary
Redfin's median sale price for Cary is $645,073, down 0.76% year-over-year, with a median 25 days on market (Redfin). RentCafe puts average rent at $1,715 a month -- $1,500 for a one-bedroom, $1,813 for a two-bedroom, and $2,139 for a three-bedroom (RentCafe).
Getting around
Cary is large and spread out enough that most trips are still by car, but GoCary's 9 local routes hubbed at Cary Station connect to GoTriangle's regional network, including a direct Route 300/301 run to downtown Raleigh. There's no light rail, subway, or commuter rail anywhere in the Triangle, though a bus rapid transit line between downtown Raleigh and Cary Station has been discussed as a future project.
Cary FAQ
Is Cary basically part of Raleigh?
No -- Cary is an independently incorporated city of roughly 180,000 people with its own government, schools, and zoning, though it's contiguous with the rest of the Raleigh metro and often discussed alongside it.
Why is Cary such a big tech hub?
SAS Institute, the world's largest privately-held software company, is headquartered in Cary with over 4,000 employees, alongside major offices for Epic Games, Garmin, MetLife, Verizon Business, and Siemens Medical Solutions -- plus proximity to Research Triangle Park.
Will my kids' school assignment change?
Possibly. WCPSS's 2027 reassignment plan, triggered by a new Morrisville High School opening that year, is expected to affect Cary, Green Hope, Leesville Road, and Panther Creek High School zones. Check WCPSS's assignment tool for both the current and any announced future assignment.
Does Cary flood?
It's a real, managed risk rather than a nonissue -- Cary's drainage basin includes three Neuse River tributaries (Crabtree, Swift, and Walnut Creeks), and the town's stormwater flood-alert system won state and national awards in 2020. Check FEMA and town flood maps for a specific address.
Is there a hospital in Cary?
Yes -- WakeMed Cary Hospital, 1900 Kildaire Farm Rd, is located within the town itself.
How do I get to downtown Raleigh without driving?
GoTriangle's Route 300/301 buses run directly between Cary Station and downtown Raleigh via Western Boulevard. There's no rail option -- no light rail, subway, or commuter rail exists anywhere in the Triangle.
Nearby alternatives*We're not ranking these — every neighborhood has real trade-offs, and which ones matter is up to you.
Apex
About 8-9 miles further southwest along the same tech corridor; Apex's $601,962 Zillow-tracked value runs below Cary's $645,073 Redfin median, and Apex trades Cary's SAS-anchored corporate base for a smaller, historic railroad-town downtown core.
Morrisville
Immediately northwest, sharing the same RTP-adjacent tech-employer base -- Cary's SAS Institute and Epic Games alongside Morrisville's Lenovo and Oracle; Morrisville's $559,695 Redfin median sale price runs below Cary's $645,073.
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