BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Cary, NC

B
Score
65/100
Rank #54 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Cary is a strong match for retirement if you value typical rent (2br), plus median household income. Overall, it performs well across the scorecard (#54 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is age 65+ share.

Methodology · Sources · NC rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Cary ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,588/mo (10% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Median household income: $129,399 (71% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $525,200 (51% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Age 65+ share: 14% (2% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 7% (34% lower 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
Typical home value
$525,200
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
14%
National median: 14%
Median age
40
National median: —
Median household income
$129,399
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
96%
National median: 91%

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 typical home value.
54/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
57/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
96/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
93/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

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

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

14%
Age 65+
86%
Under 65

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
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$525,200
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
14%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$129,399
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
96%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
7%

Similar cities (by score)

#52 Cincinnati, OH
66/100
#53 Anchorage, AK
65/100
#55 Brownsville, TX
65/100
#56 Henderson, NV
65/100

FAQ

›What is Cary’s retirement score and rank?
Cary, NC scores B (65/100) and ranks #54 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 retirement patterns 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).
›How affordable is housing in Cary, NC?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,588/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $525,200 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Cary, NC?
Age 65+ share is 14% (national median: 14%).
›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 (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).