BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Cary, NC

A+
Score
85/100
Rank #1 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

For remote work, Cary is a top-ranked pick when you’re optimizing for broadband subscription alongside typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s one of the stronger performers in this set (#1 of 200). The main watch-out is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · NC rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Cary ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,588/mo (10% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 96% (6% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 32% (163% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 7% (34% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 70% (103% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
176,686
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,588/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
32%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
96%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$129,399
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
70%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
7%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
56/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
96/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
67/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
93/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

4%
Less than HS
26%
HS / Some college
37%
Bachelor’s
33%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

32%
Work from home
68%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

96%
Broadband
4%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,588/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
96%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
32%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$129,399
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
70%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
7%

Similar cities (by score)

#2 Olathe, KS
79/100
#3 Overland Park, KS
77/100

FAQ

›What is Cary’s remote work score and rank?
Cary, NC scores A+ (85/100) and ranks #1 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Cary city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Cary, NC?
Population is about 176,686 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Cary, NC?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Cary, NC?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,588/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Cary, NC?
Work-from-home share is 32% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Cary, NC?
Broadband subscription is 96% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Cary, NC?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 4%, HS/some college 26%, bachelor’s 37%, advanced 33%.
›Where does this data come from for Cary, NC?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).