Economy, jobs and prices in Cary, North Carolina: official figures
The median household income in Cary was $134,905 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 59th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the North Carolina median $72,388.
What is the per capita income in Cary?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Cary averaged $67,409 a year in 2020-2024, 62nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; North Carolina: $41,385).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Cary?
Cary's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.427 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 241st least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Cary, North Carolina?
3.5% of the civilian labor force in Cary was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,410 people), 88th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and North Carolina's 4.7%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Cary have jobs?
95,385 residents of Cary held civilian jobs, 66.6% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 175 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Cary?
The largest industry group for working residents of Cary was professional, scientific, management and administrative services (28.5% of employed residents), followed by education, health care and social assistance (21.5%) and manufacturing (10.3%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Cary work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 10.3% of working residents of Cary, 302nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 28.5% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Cary, North Carolina?
Commuters in Cary took 22.5 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 280th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 3.4% travelled an hour or more and 23.7% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Cary get to work?
36.5% of workers living in Cary worked from home in 2020-2024, 9th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 56.3% drove to work alone, 4.5% carpooled, 0.3% used public transport and 1.0% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Cary, North Carolina?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Cary was $1,738 a month in 2020-2024, 313th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; North Carolina: $1,228).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Cary?
Owner-occupied homes in Cary had a median value of $580,200 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 199th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; North Carolina: $288,900).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Cary?
The median home value in Cary was 4.3 times the median household income, 357th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Cary have no internet?
1.7% of households in Cary (1,157) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 48th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 5.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Cary compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 59 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Thousand Oaks | $135,603 |
| 57 | Holly Springs | $135,578 |
| 58 | Lake Forest | $135,175 |
| 59 | Cary | $134,905 |
| 60 | Madison | $134,655 |
| 61 | South Jordan | $134,047 |
| 62 | Union City | $133,715 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 62 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Johns Creek | $68,479 |
| 60 | New Rochelle | $68,173 |
| 61 | Downers Grove | $67,928 |
| 62 | Cary | $67,409 |
| 63 | Roswell | $67,386 |
| 64 | Stamford | $67,068 |
| 65 | Evanston | $66,712 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 583 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 580 | Columbia | 0.427 |
| 581 | Yakima | 0.427 |
| 582 | Carson | 0.427 |
| 583 | Cary | 0.427 |
| 584 | Kansas City | 0.426 |
| 585 | Longmont | 0.426 |
| 586 | Malden | 0.426 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 736 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 733 | Appleton | 3.5% |
| 734 | Schaumburg | 3.5% |
| 735 | Burleson | 3.5% |
| 736 | Cary | 3.5% |
| 737 | Bartlett | 3.4% |
| 738 | Cambridge | 3.4% |
| 739 | Holly Springs | 3.4% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 200 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 197 | Revere | 69.2% |
| 198 | La Mesa | 69.2% |
| 199 | Greenwood | 69.2% |
| 200 | Cary | 69.1% |
| 201 | Ogden | 69.1% |
| 202 | Pearland | 69.1% |
| 203 | Avondale | 69.0% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 544 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 541 | Ogden | 22.5 |
| 542 | Hampton | 22.5 |
| 543 | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government | 22.5 |
| 544 | Cary | 22.5 |
| 545 | Pasco | 22.5 |
| 546 | Racine | 22.5 |
| 547 | Pinellas Park | 22.5 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 9 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Berkeley | 37.1% |
| 7 | Alpharetta | 36.7% |
| 8 | Hoboken | 36.7% |
| 9 | Cary | 36.5% |
| 10 | Apex | 36.0% |
| 11 | Celina | 35.8% |
| 12 | Bellevue | 35.6% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 689 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 686 | Jacksonville | 0.3% |
| 687 | Conroe | 0.3% |
| 688 | Eagle Mountain | 0.3% |
| 689 | Cary | 0.3% |
| 690 | Queen Creek | 0.3% |
| 691 | Pasadena | 0.3% |
| 692 | Cape Coral | 0.3% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 302 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 299 | Jonesboro | 10.3% |
| 300 | Garland | 10.3% |
| 301 | Amarillo | 10.3% |
| 302 | Cary | 10.3% |
| 303 | Montebello | 10.3% |
| 304 | Pomona | 10.3% |
| 305 | Lakewood | 10.3% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 542 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | West Des Moines | 21.6% |
| 540 | Kentwood | 21.6% |
| 541 | Pembroke Pines | 21.5% |
| 542 | Cary | 21.5% |
| 543 | Watsonville | 21.5% |
| 544 | Redwood City | 21.5% |
| 545 | Montgomery | 21.5% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 313 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 310 | Jurupa Valley | $1,741 |
| 311 | Everett | $1,740 |
| 312 | Smyrna | $1,739 |
| 313 | Cary | $1,738 |
| 314 | Apple Valley | $1,738 |
| 315 | Nashua | $1,737 |
| 316 | El Monte | $1,736 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 199 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 196 | Fontana | $586,800 |
| 197 | Riverside | $584,800 |
| 198 | Portland | $581,500 |
| 199 | Cary | $580,200 |
| 200 | Compton | $580,200 |
| 201 | Fort Collins | $577,900 |
| 202 | Apex | $576,100 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 464 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 461 | Casa Grande | 4.3x |
| 462 | Gastonia | 4.3x |
| 463 | North Port | 4.3x |
| 464 | Cary | 4.3x |
| 465 | Rock Hill | 4.3x |
| 466 | Chicago | 4.3x |
| 467 | Houston | 4.3x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 213 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 210 | Taylor | 66.7% |
| 211 | Cedar Park | 66.7% |
| 212 | St. George | 66.7% |
| 213 | Cary | 66.6% |
| 214 | San Clemente | 66.5% |
| 215 | Cathedral City | 66.5% |
| 216 | Encinitas | 66.5% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 67 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Broomfield | 96.7% |
| 65 | Brentwood | 96.6% |
| 66 | Goodyear | 96.6% |
| 67 | Cary | 96.6% |
| 68 | Arcadia | 96.6% |
| 69 | Redondo Beach | 96.6% |
| 70 | Roswell | 96.6% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 776 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 773 | Westfield | 1.7% |
| 774 | Gaithersburg | 1.7% |
| 775 | Chino Hills | 1.7% |
| 776 | Cary | 1.7% |
| 777 | Dunwoody | 1.6% |
| 778 | Fishers | 1.6% |
| 779 | Plano | 1.6% |
More on Cary: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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