NC area data
Cary, NC
Aggregated across 2 ZIP codes in Cary.
Population: 80,200 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Cary, NC is $535,918 — down 1.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $528,500 after a median 24 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,638/month. 14 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with hail, heatwave, icestorm the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$535,918
Median home value
-1.6%
1-year change
24
Median days on market
Relatively High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $535,918
- 1-year appreciation
- -1.6%
- 3-year appreciation
- +2.4%
- 5-year appreciation
- +28.8%
- 10-year appreciation
- +84.8%
- All-time peak (2024-12)
- $552,666
- House Price Index (state)
- 438.2 (+1.0% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $528,500
- Median list price
- $534,500
- Median price per sqft
- $268
- 1-year sale-price change
- -3.4%
- Median days on market
- 24 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 140
- For-sale inventory
- 259
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.0%
- Active listings
- 95
- 1-year forecast
- +0.3%
- Days to pending
- 30 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 98
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,638/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +1.3%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,540/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,615/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,770/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,220/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,970/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Below Average)
- 92.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 14.0¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $16.40/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 14
- Elementary schools
- 9
- Middle schools
- 3
- High schools
- 1
- Charter schools
- 2
- School districts serving the area
- Triangle Math and Science Academy, Wake County Schools, Cardinal Charter
- Schools include
- Triangle Math and Science Academy, Adams Elementary, Briarcliff Elementary, Cary Elementary, Cary High
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively High
- Top hazards (county)
- hail, heatWave, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, lightning
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively Moderate
- FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
- includes X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 26% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 53.9%
- Radon potential (county)
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 2
- Nearest Superfund site
- Koppers Co., Inc. (Morrisville Plant) (3.7 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 79.0°F
- Average high
- 80.0°F
- Average low
- 78.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 49.8 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 49
- Days with Good air quality
- 190
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 170
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 130
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 15.2 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 814
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 70,898
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 49,874
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 50
- Nearest airport
- Cox Airport (4 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (5 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 175
- Hospitals include
- ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL WEST, AN AFFILIATE OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.8 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.5 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +2,663 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,989
- Housing built before 1970
- 8.2%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 24.1%
- Median annual property tax
- $3,491
- Mean commute to work
- 15 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 89.8%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 555,964
- Average weekly wage
- $1,452
- Top industries (by employment)
- Professional Services, Health Care, Accommodation & Food
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 9,552
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Cary | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $535,918 | $287,250 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $528,500 | $330,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 24 days | 70 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,638/mo | $1,686/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $3,491 | $1,366 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Cary, NC?
- $535,918.
- What is the median sale price in Cary, NC?
- $528,500.
- How long do homes take to sell in Cary, NC?
- Median days on market: 24 days.
- What is typical rent in Cary, NC?
- Typical rent: $1,638/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Cary, NC?
- Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hail, heatWave, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, lightning.
- Is Cary, NC in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone X; zones vary by location within the city.
- What is the wildfire risk in Cary, NC?
- Risk to homes is higher than 26% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Cary, NC?
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Cary, NC?
- 2 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Koppers Co., Inc. (Morrisville Plant), 3.7 mi.
- How many schools serve Cary, NC?
- 14 schools (9 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is Cary, NC walkable?
- Walkability index: 15.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in Cary, NC?
- Good. Median AQI: 49. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Cary, NC?
- Regional Price Parity: 92.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP codes in Cary
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →