Cary Flag

Cary

County:
Wake County
County Seat:
No
Area (mi²):
61.091

Cary is a town located in Wake County, North Carolina. Cary has a 2026 population of 185,432. Cary is currently growing at a rate of 1.01% annually and its population has increased by 6.1% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 174,773 in 2020.

The median household income in Cary is $134,905 with a poverty rate of 5.66%. The median age in Cary is 40.2 years: 39.1 years for males, and 41 years for females. For every 100 females there are 97.7 males.

185.4K
Total Population
3,035
Density (mi²)
1.9K 1.01%
Growth

Cary Population

Cary Population

Year ↓
Population
Growth
Annual Change
2026185,4321,8501.01%
2025183,5821,4090.77%
2024182,1731,4800.82%
2023180,6935670.31%
2022180,1263,2191.82%
2021176,9072,1201.21%
2020174,7734,2052.47%
2019170,5682,3251.38%
2018168,2432,1441.29%
2017166,0993,4812.14%
2016162,6182,7741.74%
2015159,8444,2962.76%
2014155,5484,1292.73%
2013151,4195,1963.55%
2012146,2233,9622.79%
2011142,2615,1453.75%
2010137,1161,8821.39%
200094,53650,678115.55%
199043,85822,095101.53%
198021,76314,333192.91%
19707,4304,074121.39%
19603,3562,256205.09%
19401,10000%

Median Age

Overall: 40.2 years
Female: 41 years
Male: 39.1 years

Cary Adults

There are 137,307 adults, (25,341 of whom are seniors) in Cary.

Sex Ratio

Female: 90,679 (50.6%)
Male: 88,627 (49.4%)

Demographics

The racial composition of Cary includes 58.27% White, 20.37% Asian, 7.85% Black or African American, 3.69% other race, and smaller percentages for Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

Race
Population ↓
Percentage (of total)
White104,48058.27%
Asian36,53020.37%
Two or more races17,2159.6%
Black or African American14,0847.85%
Other race6,6243.69%
Native American2560.14%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander1170.07%
Race
Population ↓
Percentage (of total)
Two or more races8,7154.86%
Other race4,9762.78%
White2,7381.53%
Black or African American4810.27%
Native American1060.06%
Asian910.05%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander100.01%
Race
Population ↓
Percentage (of total)
White101,74256.74%
Asian36,43920.32%
Black or African American13,6037.59%
Two or more races8,5004.74%
Other race1,6480.92%
Native American1500.08%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander1070.06%

Cary Marital Status

Economics and Income Statistics

Cary's average per capita income is $84,256. Household income levels show a median of $134,905. The poverty rate stands at 5.66%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.
Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.
Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.
Name
Median ↓
Mean
Married Families$182,214$215,818
Families$166,301$200,594
Households$134,905$170,942
Non Families$69,784$97,246

$84,256

Average Income

$134,905

Median Household Income

5.66%

Poverty Rate

Sources

  1. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  2. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts
  5. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)