Cary, North Carolina
What It Is Like to Retire in Cary
Cary is located in the heart of North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, west of Raleigh and southeast of Chapel Hill. This city of 174,721 (2020 Census), grew by 80% between 2000 and 2020 and is one of the fastest growing towns in the U.S. Many of those moving here are people from the northeast looking for a retirement home. Locals often joke that Cary stands for "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees". The employment market here is one of the strongest in the nation. Photo of Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, North Carolina, USA courtesy of Wikipedia and Mike Turner (public domain) Look at Topretirements Mini-Retirement Guide to North Carolina.
Where to Retire in Cary and Home Prices
There are many active adult communities in the area, including surrounding towns like Apex, Raleigh, and Durham. According to Zillow, housing prices in Cary have been on the rise the last several years, with the median home value at $576,148 in mid-2023.
What Is Special about Cary
Being in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina makes Cary a desirable place to live. Money Magazine has chosen Cary as one of the 10 best places to live (2006), it also won an award as one of America's safest cities. In addition to being named bicycle-friendly, Cary has an extensive network of parks and greenways.
What Is Not Special about Cary
For the south, real estate prices in Cary are fairly high. To date there has been no housing correction.
Who Will Like Retirement in Cary
People who want to live in the bustling Research Triangle area near many universities.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Cary has a diversified economy thanks to its location within the Research Triangle area of NC.
Climate and Physical Environment
Cary is located in the central Piedmont section of NC. The average July high temp is 89 and the average Jan low temp is 30. The wettest month is July with about 4" of precip.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Within the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, there are 3 large universities - NC State, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and Duke University in Durham. The Lazy Daze Arts Festival is always fun. Sports is a form of culture in Cary, and there is plenty of that with fields, golf courses, tennis courts, and nature trails. There is a wide variety of restaurants from just about all of the national chains to some interesting local ones. Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh all tend to merge together so there are many cultural and gastronomic choices.
Crime
Crime rate is very low.
Medical facilities
Wakemed - Western Wake Medical Center serves Cary. Hospitals are also available in nearby Raleigh.
Transportation
There is public transit available throughout the area. Cary has Amtrak service to just about anywhere in the country. The Raleigh-Durham Airport is very convenient. Cary has been designated a bicycle friendly city.
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