Cary NC

Cary is a large town boasting family-friendly neighborhoods and an ample dose of Southern charm. This prosperous community maintains a convenient distance from Raleigh and Research Triangle Park, putting a myriad of employment opportunities within reach.

Real Estate

Cary is filled with breathtaking homes, primarily in traditional and Colonial styles with charming brick details and shutters. There are a number of grandiose estates in Cary, valued at well over $1 million. A rapidly growing population in Cary translates to a high demand for housing, making this a hot seller’s market with a median selling price well above neighboring Raleigh and the averages of the state and nation as a whole. Cary boasts a high median household income and a homeownership rate of more than 66 percent.

Lifestyle and Attractions

Cary is a large town located to the west of Raleigh. With a population of approximately 160,000, Cary is the largest town in the state of North Carolina and the state’s seventh-largest municipality. Cary enjoys a prosperous community, boasting elegant homes, family-friendly neighborhoods, quiet cul-de-sacs, and a median household income almost twice as much as that of the state. Despite its large size, Cary maintains a genuine Southern charm and healthy, tight-knit sense of community. The town is widely regarded as one of the top places to live in the country, having received numerous accolades, such as being included on Money Magazine’s list of the Best Places to Live 2016.

Cary has 28 parks, providing numerous places to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. The community comes together with its signature event, the Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, and celebrates its diversity with many international events, such as the Jewish Cultural Festival, the Diwali Festival of Lights Celebration and more.

The cornerstone of business in Cary is SAS, an advanced analytics company that is one of the world’s largest software companies. Other leading employers include Siemens Medical Solutions, MetLife, and Oxford University Press. Cary residents enjoy a convenient distance from Raleigh and Research Triangle Park, putting a wide range of employment options within reach. Popular shopping destinations in Cary include Cary Towne Center, an indoor mall, and Crossroads Plaza, an outdoor mall.

Nearby Schools and Higher Education

Cary has 23 public schools in the Wake County Public School System. There are seven private schools within the Cary area, providing a diverse range of options for residents. Cary is also home to a campus of Wake Technical Community College, the largest community college in the state. There are a number of colleges and universities near Cary, including Duke University in Durham, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and more.

History

Cary originated in 1750 as a settlement known as Bradford’s Ordinary. After about 100 years, construction of the North Carolina Railroad between New Bern and Hillsborough traveled through Bradford’s Ordinary, linking it to this major transportation route. Allison Francis “Frank” Page, a farmer and lumberman, is credited with founding the town, as he and his wife purchased 300 acres surrounding the railroad. They named the area Cary, after Samuel Fenton Cary, a former Ohio congressman and prohibitionist. Page laid out the first streets in Cary and built a sawmill, general store, post office and hotel. Cary was officially incorporated in 1871, and Page became the first mayor. The town grew even more with the arrival of another railroad line just north of downtown.

Approximate Distance to:

Raleigh: 8.5 Miles

Durham: 19 Miles

Raleigh-Durham International Airport: 7 Miles

Hospitals:

WakeMed Cary Hospital: 4 Miles

Rex Healthcare of Cary: 4.5 Miles

Duke Raleigh Hospital: 12 Miles

Major Highways: