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NC area data

Cary, NC

Aggregated across 2 ZIP codes in Cary.

Population: 80,200 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Cary, NC is $526,401 — down 1.1% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $554,500 after a median 25 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,685/month. 14 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with hail, heat wave, ice storm the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.7% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$526,401

Typical home value

-1.1%

1-year change

25

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$526,401
1-year appreciation
-1.1%
3-year appreciation
+1.6%
5-year appreciation
+26.1%
10-year appreciation
+84.3%
Peak value since 2000 (Dec 2024)
$542,264
House Price Index (state)
445.4 (+0.4% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$554,500
Median list price
$568,355
Median price per sqft
$272
1-year sale-price change
+0.3%
Median days on market
25 days
Homes sold (recent period)
276
For-sale inventory
257
Sale-to-list ratio
99.0%
Active listings
202
1-year forecast
-0.2%
Days to pending
36 days
New listings (monthly)
84

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,685/mo
1-year rent change
+0.8%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,489/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,552/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,689/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,103/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,823/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)
94.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
14.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

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
Avg student-teacher ratio
15.7 : 1
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, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
hail, heat wave, ice storm, inland flooding, lightning
Notable hazard ratings (county)
hail: Relatively High · tornado: Relatively High · heat wave: Relatively High · ice storm: Relatively High · lightning: Relatively High · inland flooding: Relatively High
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims (varies by location)
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
102
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)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (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
49.7 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)
43
Days with Good air quality
250
Days with Moderate air quality
115
Highest AQI recorded (year)
76

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

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
26
Nearest airport
Cox Airport (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (5 mi)
Hospitals in or near a typical ZIP here
21
Hospitals include
CENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL, DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DURHAM VA MEDICAL CENTER
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 (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+2,663 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1989
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
576,362
Average weekly wage
$1,593
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Professional Services, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
13,806

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

CaryState medianUS median
Typical home value$526,401$285,911$288,527
Median sale price$554,500$330,000$325,000
Median days on market25 days70 days51 days
Typical rent$1,685/mo$1,688/mo$1,809/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 typical home value in Cary, NC?
$526,401.
What is the median sale price in Cary, NC?
$554,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Cary, NC?
Median days on market: 25 days.
What is typical rent in Cary, NC?
Typical rent: $1,685/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Cary, NC?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hail, heat wave, ice storm, inland flooding, lightning.
Is Cary, NC in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property across the city. 102 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
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, 2024-25).
Is Cary, NC walkable?
Walkability index: 15.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Cary, NC?
Good. Median AQI: 43. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Cary, NC?
Regional Price Parity: 94.3 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Cary

Listing a home in Cary, NC?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents