Why Cary, NC is a Best Place to Live
Residents have access to diverse neighborhoods, enjoyable quality of life.

In the geographic center of North Carolina is Cary, an upscale town that Livability.com ranks among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America. The median household income for Cary residents is more than $120,000, and the median home price is $306,200. The town enjoys a low crime rate and a highly rated WakeMed Cary Hospital, and here are other reasons why Cary is such an excellent place to live:
In This Article
Two Nice Choices
Cary is divided into east and west sections, with the eastern side being older with historic neighborhoods as well as a vibrant downtown district. The western side is dotted with newer neighborhoods along with lakes, golf courses and mansions.
Going Places
Many residents of Cary work in nearby cities such as Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh, and the commutes are easy because of a good transportation network in place. Convenient roadways are Interstate 40, U.S. 1, U.S. 64 and five state highways, and only 12 miles away is Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Focus on Education
Most students in Cary attend the town’s high-ranking Wake County Public School System, and also accessible are eight private schools along with Wake Technical Community College. Cary is less than a half hour from Duke, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina, and nearly 70 percent of adult residents in Cary have a college degree.
Technically Speaking
A number of high-tech software companies are enjoying success in Cary and continue to expand, which encourages more entrepreneurial startups to locate in town. Software companies that are experiencing growth include Arista Networks, Epic Games, IntelliScanner Corporation, Lockheed Martin 3D Solutions, LORD Corporation and SAS Institute.
Play All Day
Attractive settings for walking, jogging and biking are easy to find in Cary, with 30 public parks and 82 miles of trails that are open from sunrise to sunset. Residents and visitors can also enjoy Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, WakeMed Soccer Park, William B. Ulstead State Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
Let It Ride
Cary is rated a top bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists, which recognizes Cary for providing safe pathways for bicyclists as well as encouraging residents to bike for both recreation and transportation to work. Passing through Cary is U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that stretches from Maine to Florida, and also going through town is N.C. Bicycle Route 2 often known as the Mountains-to-Sea Route. In addition, mountain bike trails are available just north of Cary in Lake Crabtree County Park.
That’s Entertainment
Plenty of entertainment options are available to people living in Cary, including a Cary Arts Center that stages numerous concerts, gallery exhibitions and theatrical productions. Also in Cary are venues like Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park, and The Cary Theater. In addition, the city hosts annual events like Festival Ritmo Latino, Jewish Cultural Festival and MLK Jr. Dreamfest.