Cary, NC Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Cary, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Cary →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Cary, North Carolina has a population of about 174,880. Typical household income is $125,317 per year, above the median across the cities in our dataset (+74%).
Cary's housing market shows a median home value of $477,400, above the multi-city benchmark (+46%), alongside median rent of $1,538 per month. Both figures matter for anyone weighing a move here.
Home prices in Cary run about 3.8× median household income — a middle-of-the-road ratio, neither a bargain nor a stretch by our tracked standards. Year-over-year, home values around Cary are up 1.01%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. FEMA classifies Cary's hazard risk as Relatively High. That elevated rating is a major driver of home insurance premiums in the area.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,538/mo in Cary would take 14.7% of your income.
$1,595/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($477,400) would take 24.4% of your income toward principal & interest.
$375/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Cary
Median home value is $477,400 and median gross rent is $1,538/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Wake rose 1.01% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,750/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Cary's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Cary reported a violent crime rate of 75.3 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Cary
Planning a move to Cary? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Cary, NC?
- In Cary, the median home value is $477,400 and median rent is $1,538 per month, against a median household income of $125,317. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cary?
- Cary's median rent of $1,538/month works out to roughly $61,520 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Cary.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Cary?
- In Cary, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,538/month) takes about $61,520 in annual income, while buying the median home ($477,400) takes roughly $109,227 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Cary safe?
- Cary's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 75.3 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Cary →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Cary's.