Cary, North Carolina has an overall cost of living index of 98.4, which is 1.6 points below the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,738 per month, while the typical home is valued around $580,200. Households earn a median of $134,905 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 47. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$134,905
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,738
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$580,200
Median Home Value
Census ACS
98.4
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,524
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,596
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,750
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,196
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
98.4
Goods
96.8
Rents / Housing
104.0
Services
83.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,620 |
| Registered Nurse | $89,820 |
| Elementary Teacher | $56,180 |
| Electrician | $55,810 |
| Accountant | $92,050 |
| Plumber | $56,280 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $293,040 |
| Civil Engineer | $104,470 |
| Operations Manager | $138,930 |
| Market Research Analyst | $88,520 |
| Health Services Manager | $147,240 |
| Truck Driver | $55,020 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $134,910 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
179,306
Latest estimate
Median Age
40.2 yrs
Census ACS
47.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
11
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,502
Per month
Avg Home Value
$452,709
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 27511 | — | $1,360 | $373,200 |
| ZIP 27513 | — | $1,430 | $432,500 |
| ZIP 27518 | — | $1,471 | $546,200 |
| ZIP 27519 | — | $1,762 | $564,600 |
| ZIP 27523 | — | $1,612 | $496,500 |
| ZIP 27526 | — | $1,489 | $325,700 |
| ZIP 27539 | — | $1,561 | $455,000 |
| ZIP 27560 | — | $1,639 | $418,300 |
| ZIP 27606 | — | $1,266 | $392,800 |
| ZIP 27607 | — | $1,388 | $558,400 |
Showing top 10 of 11 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
80°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.5
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
95.1%
Cary has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.4. The US national average is 100, so Cary is 1.6 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Cary is $1,738 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Cary is $134,905 per year.
The median home value in Cary is $580,200 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Cary has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 47.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for North Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
