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LIVING IN CARY, NORTH CAROLINA
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An idyllic spring morning stroll
downtown is a pleasure waiting for you in Cary -photo
by Suzanne Smith |
Cary is a large town in Wake County, adjacent to
Raleigh. It’s a town of classy living, with elegant homes, family-friendly
neighborhoods, and safe, quiet cul-de-sacs, with just the right
amount of classic Southern charm.
Money Magazine
in 2006 named Cary the #5 best place to live in
the entire country. It’s easy to see why: the highest median
income in North Carolina; the highest percentage of Ph.D.’s in the United States for
towns greater than 75,000; a quick
commute to work in one of the 6,000 businesses
right in town, or to nearby Raleigh, Durham, or Research
Triangle Park. Why stop there? You can access the entire globe
with RDU International Airport being literally just a few
minutes drive on I-40. It’s no surprise that Cary is referred to
as “The Technology Town of North Carolina,” being the home of
pioneering, high-tech businesses like SAS Institute, the world’s
largest privately held software company – IBM, Lucent
Technologies, MCI WorldCom, and Siemens.
Only 30 years ago, Cary was a small, unassuming
Southern town with a population of 21,000. The growth of the
Research Triangle Park, accompanied by the influx of newcomers
exploded the population today to 126,826. And the population
expansion is not ordinary growth. Two thirds of the adult
citizenry hold college degrees, and overall, Cary has one of the
highest household income levels in North Carolina.
Cary began in 1750 as a settlement called
Bradford's Ordinary. About 100 years later, the construction
of the North Carolina Railroad between New Bern and Hillsborough
went through the town, linking the tiny settlement of Bradford's
Ordinary to a major transportation route. Allison Francis
"Frank" Page is credited with founding the town. Page was a Wake
County farmer and lumberman. He and his wife, Catherine "Kate"
Raboteau Page bought 300 acres surrounding the railroad junction
in 1854 and named his development Cary, after Samuel Fenton
Cary, a former Ohio congressman and prohibitionist he admired.
Page became a railroad agent and a town developer. He laid out
the first streets in Cary and built a sawmill, a general store
and a post office. In 1868, Page built a hotel to serve railroad
passengers coming through Cary. Cary was incorporated on April
6, 1871, with Page becoming the first mayor. In 1879, the
Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad (now CSX Transportation)
arrived in Cary from the southwest, creating Fetner Junction
just north of downtown and spurring further growth.
Beginning in 1971, Cary adopted zoning and other
ordinances on an ad-hoc basis to control growth and give the
town structure. The town created Planned Unit Development (PUD)
zoning to accommodate population growth related to the growth of
Research Triangle Park nearby. A PUD allows a developer to plan
an entire community before beginning development, thus allowing
future residents to be aware of where churches, schools,
commercial and industrial areas will be located well before such
use begins. Kildaire Farms, a 967-acre Planned Unit Development
in Cary, was North Carolina's first PUD. Local Cary government
has placed a high value on creating an aesthetically pleasing
town.
CARY DEMOGRAPHICS
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Population |
133,812 |
1,742,816 |
Metro Area |
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Household Income |
$89,894 |
$51,660 |
US Average |
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Cost of Living Index |
113 |
100 |
US Average |
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Median Home Price |
$248,490 |
$183,450 |
US Median |
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Property Tax Rate |
$7.89
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$11.20 |
US Average, per $1,000 of Home Value |
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Crime Rate |
2 |
4 |
US Average, ranked 1-10, Best – Worst |
So here you are. You have made your choice to
move to North Carolina, specifically to the Greater Research
Triangle area. Good choice! Many people have decided that living
here will provide the very best lifestyle available, including
buying a home in Cary, landing the best employment and even
finding the best schools and/or higher education. Thousands of
people have made the decision to relocate to the Research
Triangle, just like you. A newcomer will find why the Greater
Research Triangle has ranked as one of the best regions in North
Carolina to live or work, to buy the best real estate, to start
a business, to raise a family, or even to retire.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CARY
Exploring life in Cary is a good decision, and
here are fun things to know:
*The Lazy Daze Arts &
Crafts Festival
- is the top rated one-day festival in the nation
as ranked by Sunshine Artist Magazine, September 2009. It
has become one of the Southeast's largest premier festivals
during the past three decades, with an estimated 60,000 people
gathering in downtown Cary annually on the fourth Saturday in
August.
*WakeMed Soccer Park
- is the home of professional men’s soccer teams
the Carolina RailHawks, a United Soccer League expansion team.
The soccer park is also host to world class soccer, including
the ACC Championships and NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cup
tournaments.
*Cary Band Day
- since 1959, is the oldest marching band
competition in the southeast includes an annual downtown parade
and field competition.
*Jimmy V Celebrity Golf
Classic
-Top names in the sports and entertainment fields
gather each August at Prestonwood Country Club for the Jimmy V
Celebrity Golf Classic in memory of Jim Valvano, N.C. State
University basketball coach and TV commentator.
*The Page-Walker Arts
and History Center
- is located in Cary’s oldest and most historic
building. Built by Town founder Allison Francis “Frank” Page as
a railroad hotel, it is one of Wake County’s best examples of
Second Empire-style architecture, which was popular in 1868 when
the hotel was built. It is also home to the Cary Heritage
Museum.
*Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- at Regency Park is a state-of-the-art outdoor
performance center nestled in pine trees on 14-acres by Symphony
Lake. An eclectic mix of entertainment fill the April through
October performance season, including live music concerts,
festivals, Movies by Moonlight, and the North Carolina
Symphony's annual Summerfest Series.
*Accolades
2nd Safest City by Population in the United
States
6th Best Place to Live and Work, for Young
Professionals
5th Best City for Relocating Singles
3rd Best City, medium market, for Relocated
Families
3rd
Techiest
City in America
10th Best Performing City
CARY'S GOOD LIFE
It has become almost routine for Cary to be
praised as a wonderful place to live. Residents' testimonials,
articles and various organizations bestow glowing reviews and
accolades about living here. With these superlatives publicized
for so long, the Research Triangle area's fame as a great place
to live has been a magnet attracting people, like you, to
explore and relocate. This sense of the Cary good life is
expressed on the official website of the Cary Chamber of
Commerce:
"Cary is a community that supports all of its
members, from global businesses to schoolchildren to artists. It
is a community that enables each member to play a significant
role and contribute to the vision. Together with the town and
its staff, the Chamber provides one of the most talented pools
of professionals to assist you in every way you may need as an
existing business or a business looking to relocate to Cary.
"Cary offers businesses many opportunities. Not
just financial and business growth opportunities, although you
will certainly find those here, but also the opportunity to be
part of a thriving, future-focused community.
"A true community is only as strong as the people
who comprise it. That’s why we make a concerted effort to
maintain and draw individuals and companies that share our
vision for a vibrant, future-focused community. People have come
to Cary from all around the world for one reason or another and
most have found what we’ve been saying for years to be true.
Cary is the best place to live, do business and raise a family."
Howard S. Johnson, President Cary Chamber of
Commerce
WHY MOVE TO CARY?
Cary and her neighboring communities share
several common benefits. The first great reason to live in the
Greater Research Triangle is a wonderful climate. Spring and
summer are filled with a bouquet of blossoms that flood the
visual and olfactory senses. Parks and beautiful homes treat
citizens and visitors alike with colors as if from the palette
of a great landscape painter. The fall blazes with glorious
colors so awesome that it almost takes your breath away. The
winters are mild, and every now and then, the students get a day
off for a light snow. It rarely gets below freezing. How could
anyone not like the weather and climate in Cary, North Carolina? |
Cary Real Estate Search
- Homes for Sale in Cary
CARY MAP SEARCH
| Select one
of the Cary Quick Searches below or click
HERE for a Triangle wide custom search |
Cary Homes under$100,000
Cary Homes $100,000 - $200,000
Cary Homes $200,000 - $300,000
Cary Homes $300,000 - $400,000
Cary Homes $400,000 - $500,000
Cary Homes $500,000 - $750,000
Cary Homes $750,000 - $1,000,000
Cary Homes over $1,000,000
Cary Land For Sale |
Cary Condos
Cary Townhomes
Cary Detached Home Under $200,000
Cary Homes With First Floor Master
Cary Homes with Basement
New Construction Homes in Cary
Cary Historic Homes (pre 1950)
Cary Foreclosures, REO homes, (including HUD/VA)
Cary Short Sales
Cary Rentals
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Homes Just Listed in Cary
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Cary Neighborhoods:
There are several homes
in Cary not in a sub-division or neighborhood, click
HERE for a list of these homes.
To search for homes in a specific
sub-divisions and get information on these neighborhoods
including HOA information and commute times
select below:
$ = Under $100,000
$$ = $100,000 - $250,000
$$$=$250,000 - $350,000
$$$$=$350,000 - $500,000
$$$$$ = $500,000 - $750,000
$$$$$+ = $750,000+ |
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The second reason to live in Cary is that it is a
great place to buy a home. Cary real estate is affordable.
Newcomers can choose between well-established homes for sale or
new homes in outstanding new home communities. You can choose a
lot and build a custom home. Simply select a homebuilder from
the many in Greater Research Triangle. A qualified REALTOR, real
estate agent, mortgage broker or loan officer can assist in the
home purchase process and can guide you through the process of
finding and buying real estate in Cary.
Schools are another reason Greater Research
Triangle is a wonderful place to live. Oh yeah - families
especially love the schools in Cary. In fact, some of the best
schools in Greater Research Triangle are found in Cary. Wake
County Public School System, frequently cited for several
outstanding programs, services Cary. Cary schools are considered
safe places for students. But there are not only excellent
public schools in Cary, but outstanding private schools, as
well.
EDUCATION IN CARY
PUBLIC EDUCATION
To better help you select the best schools in
Cary, North Carolina, read what the Wake County Public School
System says on its website:
"WCPSS is North Carolina's largest school
district. In recent years, Wake County's school population has
grown by thousands of new students each year. As a result, WCPSS
is constantly opening new schools and it has had a direct impact
on where many children attend school. In the past, student
assignment was a yearly decision aimed at filling new schools,
reducing crowding at existing schools, minimizing bus rides and
promoting diversity goals. This year for the first time, the
Board of Education approved a three-year assignment plan for
2009-2012. By using better technology to predict growth and
information from our school construction program, this new plan
will provide families with more advanced notice of school
assignments for their students.
"WCPSS offers a wide variety of magnet school
programs offering innovative approaches to learning (Creative
Arts and Sciences, Gifted and Talented, Active Learning &
Technology, International Baccalaureate, Leadership, Montessori,
Museums, and Year-Round programs, for example). Entry into these
programs is by lottery. You should familiarize yourself with the
available programs to etermine if there's one particularly
suited to your child."
Wake County Public School System
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH A CARY ADDRESS
Elementary Schools in Cary:
Adams Elementary School
Briarcliff Elementary School
Carpenter Elementary School
Cary Elementary School
Davis Drive Elementary School
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Green Hope Elementary School
Highcroft Elementary School
Kingswood Elementary School
Mills Park Elementary School
Northwoods Elementary School
Penny Road Elementary School
Reedy Creek Elementary School
Turner Creek Elementary School
Weatherstone Elementary School
Middle Schools in Cary:
Davis Middle School
East Cary Middle School
Mills Park Middle School
Reedy Creek Middle School
West Cary Middle School
High Schools in Cary:
Cary High School
Green Hope High School
Panther Creek High School
CHARTER SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina charter schools are independent
public schools that exist to offer Cary students, parents and
educators choices in teaching, learning methods and
environments. An emphasis is placed on innovation and
accountability with improved student achievement the common
goal.
There are now nearly 5,000 public charter schools
in 39 states and the District of Columbia, educating more than
1.6 million public charter school students. North Carolina
public charter schools are intended to improve North Carolina's
traditional public school system.
Any Cary charter school, while independently
operated, must meet four requirements, like any other North
Carolina public school:
*Tuition-free and open to every student who
wishes to enroll;
*Non-sectarian, and do not discriminate on any
basis;
*Publicly funded by local, state and federal tax
dollars like other public schools;
*Held accountable to state and federal academic
standards.
LIST OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CARY:
There are no charter schools with a Cary address.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH A CARY ADDRESS
Private schools, also known as independent
schools or non-state schools, are not administered by Cary,
North Carolina, or the Federal government; thus, they retain the
right to select their students and are funded in whole or in
part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on
public funding. Cary students can get a scholarship into a
private school, which makes the cost cheaper, depending on a
talent the student may have, such as a sport scholarship, art
scholarship, academic scholarship.
List of Private Schools in Cary:
Cary Academy, grades K-12
Cary Christian School, grades K-12
Chesterbrook Academy, grades PK-5
Heartwood Montessori School, grades PK-6
Heritage of Faith Christian Academy
Hopewell Academy, grades 4-12
Little Treasures School, grades K-5
Paideia Academy, grades K-7
Resurrection Lutheran School, grades, K-3
St. Michael the Archangel School, grades PK-8
The Mariposa School
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN AND NEAR CARY
Higher education in the Greater Research Triangle
region is another great reason to live in Cary, North Carolina.
The local colleges and universities contribute more than just
classrooms, by also bringing the best in sports and cultural
offerings to the Research Triangle communities at large. If your
life calls for upper level learning, choose from the following
list of universities, colleges and community colleges:
Duke University
Durham Technical Community College
Johnston Community College
Louisburg College
Meredith College
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina State University
Peace College
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
St. Augustine’s College
Shaw University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Vance-Granville Community College
Wake Technical Community College
COMPLETE SCHOOL DIRECTORY
Welcome Here provides a full listing of the all
schools in the Greater Research Triangle region, including the
best public schools, the best private schools and the best
charter schools. Review each school's website, enrollment
figures and phone numbers. The hard to find test scores and
school safety data are included, too. All Research Triangle
school systems' data is listed, including direct comparisons.
You may find a potential new home that meets all
your desires except one – the schools serving your new home do
not meet your expectations. No worries!
WelcomeHere
has a unique and Home Report that shows homes for sale in the
attendance zone of any Cary public school, or by desired
distance from your potential new Cary home.
TIPS FROM YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS IN CARY
Whether you are relocating to Cary, or moving
across town, Welcome Here provides articles, advice and guidance
from area businesses, organizations and professionals.
Your new Research Triangle neighbors are
organized by the specific stage of your new move. Read more
about Cary new homes; Cary real estate; Cary apartments; Cary
storage and mortgages for Cary homes.
So, whether you are just exploring relocating, or
you have definitely decided to make Cary, North Carolina your
new home here, congratulations AND -
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