Health Profile of Cary, North Carolina
Cary Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A+
Cary Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 5.2% | 9.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 7.5% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Cary is 81.4 years, about 4.3 years longer than the North Carolina average of 77.1 years. The uninsured rate is 5.2%, lower than the North Carolina average of 9.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 7.5% of residents, lower than the North Carolina average of 16.8%.
Population by Age
Older residents
49,068 residents in Cary are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,889 691 men · 1,198 women
- 75–84 5,197 2,198 men · 2,999 women
- 65–74 11,084 5,044 men · 6,040 women
- 50–64 30,898 15,327 men · 15,571 women
Younger residents
36,886 residents in Cary are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 12,179 6,436 boys · 5,743 girls
- 7–12 11,444 5,904 boys · 5,539 girls
- 3–7 7,970 4,060 boys · 3,910 girls
- 0–3 5,293 2,759 boys · 2,535 girls
About 3,413 residents in Cary (2.1% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 81.4 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 6.9% | 12.4% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.2% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 3.9% | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 25.7% | 35.8% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Cary is about 49% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of diabetes in Cary is about 44% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of obesity in Cary is about 28% lower than in North Carolina.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 10.4% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 17.2% | 14.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 13.5% | 25.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Cary is about 50% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Cary is about 46% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of binge drinking in Cary is about 17% higher than in North Carolina.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 127,538 cigarettes a day, 3.8 million a month, or 46.6 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.4 million minutes a day and 512.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Cary is 81.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.03 lifetimes a day, or 12 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.82 | 5.99 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.8 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Cary is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Cary, NC Health Compared With Nearby Cities
Cary, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 cities compared here, 159,804 residents against a local median of 29,205. Where Cary, NC breaks from the cities next to it is uninsured, sitting 24% above the local median of 4.2% at 5.2%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread 6.2% on uninsured, so Cary, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cary, NC has the 5th lowest uninsured of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cary, NC | 159,804 | 81.4 yrs #3/6 | 5.2% #5/6 | 25.7% #2/6 |
| Morrisville, NC | 22,339 | 81.7 yrs | 3.0% | 24.6% |
| Apex, NC | 47,941 | 81.8 yrs | 4.0% | 26.6% |
| Holly Springs, NC | 29,205 | 80.4 yrs | 4.2% | 28.6% |
| Raleigh, NC | 423,734 | 80.0 yrs | 9.2% | 29.7% |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 24,602 | 79.1 yrs | 5.1% | 30.2% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cary, North Carolina has an overall health index grade of A+, making it far better than North Carolina, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Cary, North Carolina.
What is the health grade for Cary, North Carolina?
Cary, North Carolina has a Map AI Health Index grade of A+, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A+ grade means residents are among the healthiest and longest-living in the country.
How long do people live in Cary, North Carolina?
People in Cary, North Carolina can expect to live 81.4 years on average, 4.3 years longer than the North Carolina average of 77.1.
What is the uninsured rate in Cary, North Carolina?
5.2% of residents in Cary, North Carolina have no health insurance, about 1 in 19 people, 4.6 points below the North Carolina rate of 9.9%.
What is the obesity rate in Cary, North Carolina?
25.7% of adults in Cary, North Carolina are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 10.1 points below the North Carolina rate of 35.8%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Cary, North Carolina go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 127,538 cigarettes a day, 3.8 million a month, or 46.6 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.4 million minutes a day and 512.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Cary is 81.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.03 lifetimes a day, or 12 lifetimes a year.
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