Cary, North Carolina Income Statistics
Cary Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
A
Cary Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $129,912 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $92,568 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 29.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 28.4% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cary is about 79% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Cary (4.4%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 29% of adults in Cary earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cary, North Carolina grew by 59.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $129,912 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cary
| Metric | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $115,774 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $76,846 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 33.6% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cary, it is 0.519, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 51% more than women's income in Cary, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 51% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,362,480 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Cary, North Carolina has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 34%. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2021, and was narrowest at 31% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,186 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cary | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 35.7% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 3,091 people are unemployed in Cary, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Cary is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cary, North Carolina has fallen from 4.7% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2019.
Cary, NC Wealth 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. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest cities, which makes Cary, NC an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 8% below the local median at 4.4%/yr against 4.8%/yr. Cary, NC has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cary, NC | 159,804 | $129,912 #4/6 | 4.4%/yr #5/6 | 3.5% #4/6 | 0.519 #3/6 |
| Morrisville, NC | 22,339 | $136,940 | 3.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.499 |
| Apex, NC | 47,941 | $140,025 | 4.8%/yr | 3.1% | 0.514 |
| Holly Springs, NC | 29,205 | $133,074 | 4.8%/yr | 3.1% | 0.527 |
| Raleigh, NC | 423,734 | $86,293 | 5.1%/yr | 4.6% | 0.539 |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 24,602 | $108,365 | 5.9%/yr | 3.4% | 0.519 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cary, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it far better than North Carolina, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cary, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Cary, North Carolina?
Cary has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $129,912, about 79% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Cary, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cary, North Carolina rose 59%, from $81,588 to $129,912. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +59% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Cary in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cary, North Carolina was $124,639, up 4% from $120,000 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Cary in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cary, North Carolina was $103,880. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $129,912.
How many people earn six figures in Cary, North Carolina?
Yes. 29% of adults in Cary, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 28% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
How strong is the job market in Cary, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Cary, North Carolina is only 3.5%, well below the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cary, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Cary is 0.519. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cary, North Carolina?
The income gap between men and women in Cary, North Carolina has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 34%. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2021, and was narrowest at 31% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,186 since 2009.
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