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CITY

Cary

Illinois · 17,932 residents (2025 est.) · 6.516 sq mi
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The short version

Cary is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $113,026. Population has grown 15% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $309,800. Poverty is rare here, at 4.8% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 36% more than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 8%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,923
+15%since 2000
from 15,531 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,751 / sq mi
+15%since 2000
from 2,384 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.2
+16%since 2000
from 33.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,932 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K12K15K18K20K1990201020202024Cary
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$113,026
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,801 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$50,715
+89%since 2000
from $26,903 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
68.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.399
+14%since 2010
from 0.349 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$309,800
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $184,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,428
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $796 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
84.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 90.6% in 2000
15.2% rent
Vacancy rate
3.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
64.0%
+22.9 ptssince 2009
from 41.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+14%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
11
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cary on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(14,311)
Black0.4%(60)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(843)
Asian1.4%(210)
Other0%
Diversity Score17%(2,639)
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.2%(14,191)
Black0.9%(164)
Hispanic / Latino12.9%(2,310)
Asian1.5%(273)
Other5.5%(985)
Diversity Score44.1%(7,912)
Diversity Score
44
+160%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
44.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 40.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 94.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.4 min
−3%since 2000
from 29.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.8%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.8%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
74.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 77.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.7%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 69.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
50.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
9.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−44.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 4.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.3%
−88.0 ptssince 2013
from 91.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.8%
+6.2 ptssince 2017
from 91.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2016
from 85.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 7.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cary

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Pop 16,789
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Head to head

Compare Cary to nearby cities

CARY VS
Lake in the Hills
Income$117,151+4%
Home value$321,900+4%
Population28,590+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARY VS
Crystal Lake
Income$108,418−4%
Home value$311,400+1%
Population42,288+136%
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CARY VS
Algonquin
Income$134,525+19%
Home value$351,000+13%
Population30,824+72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARY VS
Island Lake
Income$103,156−9%
Home value$262,500−15%
Population8,047−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cary, Illinois?

Cary, Illinois has about 17,923 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cary, Illinois?

The typical household in Cary, Illinois earns about $113,026 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cary, Illinois expensive?

In Cary, Illinois, the median home is worth about $309,800, and the typical rent is about $1,428 a month.

How educated are people in Cary, Illinois?

About 44.7% of adults age 25 and over in Cary, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cary, Illinois?

About 4.8% of people in Cary, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cary, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Cary, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,880 residents, a change of about 78 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Cary, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy