Cary: Economy & Jobs
Cary's typical household earns $134,905 (1.3× higher than Wake County median $105,768; 1.9× higher than North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $580,200. The surrounding county supports 18,540 jobs (avg $51,876).
- $125,177 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs North Carolina $84,123).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $134,905 — above the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 5.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 30% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 14.4% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 30.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 5.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $39,000 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $4,881,901 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $125,177 (vs North Carolina $84,123) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $147,452 |
| Median Household Income | $134,905 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 5.7% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Professional |
| Economic Character · Income Level | affluent |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $134,905 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.4% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 36% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 22.50 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 36.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | remote work hub |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 18,540 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $961,766,991 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $51,876 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 4,795,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% (vs North Carolina 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 937 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 114,051 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 121.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Cattle, Milk |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,665 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 17,157 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 712,674 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 15 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 29 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 11 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 52 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 46 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 3 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Walmart 2247 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 89 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | CARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $600,138,986 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,867.06 (vs North Carolina $7,140) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 76,285 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 1 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 56.3% |
| Pct Public Transit | 1.0% |
| Pct Walked | 36.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 40.2 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 21.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12