Raleigh vs Cary
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $415,800 in Raleigh and $580,200 in Cary.
- Households earn more in Cary ($134,905 vs $85,395 median).
- Raleigh is growing faster: +8.2% since 2020 vs +5%.
Side by side
| Raleigh, NC | Cary, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 506,306 | 183,582 |
| Growth since 2020 | +8.2% | +5% |
| People per square mile | 3,354 | 3,011 |
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.2 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54% | 71% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $85,395 | $134,905 |
| Median home value | $415,800 | $580,200 |
| Home value to income | 4.9× | 4.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,572 | $1,738 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 103.5 | 103.5 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,600 | $73,600 |
| Homeowners | 51% | 67% |
| Top state income tax | 3.99% | 3.99% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.1% | 7.1% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.0 | 22.5 |
| Work from home | 26% | 37% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.4% | 3.5% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 5.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 52° / 32° | 52° / 32° |
| July high / low | 91° / 70° | 91° / 70° |
| Precipitation per year | 46 in | 46 in |
| Snowfall per year | 5 in | 5 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 52 | 52 |
| Nights below freezing | 65 | 65 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 66% | 66% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.1% | +1.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +44.9% | +44.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Raleigh: April to May and October. Cary: April to May and October.
Full monthly tables: Raleigh weather by month and Cary weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,600 in Raleigh and $73,600 in Cary. Moving from Raleigh to Cary, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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