Cary, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Cary, North Carolina is 176,686 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 7th-largest city in North Carolina. The median household income is $129,399, the median home value is $525,200, and the median age is 39.8.

The population has grown 33.2% since 2010 (137,086 → 182,659).

176,686

Population

2898

People / sq mi

$129,399

Median Income

$525,200

Median Home Value

Cary covers 61.0 sq mi of land at 2898 people per square mile.

About Cary, NC

Cary is a city in North Carolina with a population of 176,686. It ranks #7 among cities in North Carolina by population. The median age is 39.8, in line with the national median. The population is 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

The median household income in Cary is $129,399, above the US median of $74,580. 3.5% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $525,200, with monthly rent averaging $1,621. The homeownership rate of 66.3% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Cary reflects 70.2% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 32.4% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 22.7 minutes each way.

Cary town Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Cary town had a population of 137,086 in 2010 and 182,659 in 2024, a 33.2% growth over 14 years. The peak was 182,659 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 2.08%.

182,659

Population (2024)

137,086

Population (2010)

182,659

Peak (2024)

2.08%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	137,086	-	-	estimate
2011	142,209	+5,123	+3.74%	estimate
2012	146,154	+3,945	+2.77%	estimate
2013	151,328	+5,174	+3.54%	estimate
2014	155,439	+4,111	+2.72%	estimate
2015	159,712	+4,273	+2.75%	estimate
2016	162,477	+2,765	+1.73%	estimate
2017	165,927	+3,450	+2.12%	estimate
2018	168,042	+2,115	+1.27%	estimate
2019	170,282	+2,240	+1.33%	estimate
2020	174,803	+4,521	+2.66%	estimate
2021	176,928	+2,125	+1.22%	estimate
2022	180,376	+3,448	+1.95%	estimate
2023	181,205	+829	+0.46%	estimate
2024	182,659	+1,454	+0.80%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	60.1%
Black or African American	7.6%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	0.9%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$129,399

Median Household Income

$64,590

Per Capita Income

3.5%

Poverty Rate

2.3%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$525,200

Median Home Value

$1,621

Median Rent

66.3%

Owner-Occupied

Education

96.3%

High School+

70.2%

Bachelor's+

Commute

0.4%

Drive Alone

59.3%

Public Transit

32.4%

Work From Home

22.7 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

46.1%

Foreign Born

73.6%

Non-English at Home

4.9%

Veterans

7.8%

With Disability

94.6%

Health Insurance

98.8%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	29.0%
Professional, Scientific & Management	20.2%
Manufacturing	10.6%
Information	8.0%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	7.1%
Construction	3.6%
Retail Trade	3.1%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	3.1%
Transportation & Warehousing	2.6%
Public Administration	2.6%
Agriculture & Mining	0.3%

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Raleigh (470,763)Greensboro (298,564)Durham (288,465)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)Asheville (94,369)View all North Carolina cities →

Largest counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Common questions about Cary, NC

What is the population of Cary town, NC?What is the median household income in Cary town, NC?What is the median home value in Cary town, NC?What are the demographics of Cary town, NC?What is the cost of living in Cary town, NC?Is Cary town, NC growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Cary, North Carolina has a population of 176,686 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 7th-largest city in North Carolina.

The median household income in Cary, North Carolina is $129,399, with 3.5% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Cary, North Carolina is $525,200, with median monthly rent at $1,621 and a homeownership rate of 66.3%.

The median age in Cary, North Carolina is 39.8 years. The population is 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

The population has grown 33.2% since 2010 (137,086 → 182,659).