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CITY · 2010 ACS

Cary

North Carolina · 135,234 residents · 60.128 sq mi
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The short version

Cary is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $89,542. Population has grown 43% since 2000. 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $289,000. Poverty is rare here, at 5.0% of residents. Households here earn about 96% more than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 36.6
US median: 37.2
More educated
62% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
135,234
+43%since 2000
from 94,536 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,249 / sq mi
+43%since 2000
from 1,572 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
36.6
+9%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
30K71K112K152K193K1990201020202024Cary
2024179K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$89,542
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,122 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,700
+26%since 2000
from $32,974 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
57.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
5.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information9.5%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 7%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food4.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.5%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$289,000
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $193,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$888
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $826 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
57.9%
−15.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
31.2% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
18.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 34.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.2
+26%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cary on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic79.7%(75,299)
Black6.1%(5,744)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(4,047)
Asian8.1%(7,636)
Other0%
Diversity Score41%(38,764)
2010
White, non-Hispanic68.9%(93,202)
Black7.8%(10,485)
Hispanic / Latino7.7%(10,364)
Asian13%(17,620)
Other2.3%(3,079)
Diversity Score61.5%(83,170)
Diversity Score
62
+50%since 2000
from 41 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
62.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
95.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 95.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
24.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
+59%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
7.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
2.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
61.2%
−17.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
17.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
8.2%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cary

Cambridge
Pop 122,588
Naperville
Pop 153,114
Frisco
Pop 236,955
Olathe
Pop 150,025
Places similar to Cary
Head to head

Compare Cary to nearby cities

CARY VS
Morrisville
Income$125,396+40%
Home value$518,800+80%
Population32,466−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARY VS
Apex
Income$144,135+61%
Home value$576,100+99%
Population80,419−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARY VS
Holly Springs
Income$135,578+51%
Home value$535,800+85%
Population50,288−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARY VS
Raleigh
Income$85,395−5%
Home value$415,800+44%
Population506,306+176%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cary, North Carolina?

Cary, North Carolina has about 135,234 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cary, North Carolina?

The typical household in Cary, North Carolina earns about $89,542 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cary, North Carolina expensive?

In Cary, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $289,000, and the typical rent is about $888 a month.

How educated are people in Cary, North Carolina?

About 62.3% of adults age 25 and over in Cary, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cary, North Carolina?

About 5.0% of people in Cary, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cary, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Cary, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 91,376 residents, a change of about 208 percent over that period.

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

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