Sign In Register

Cary, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Wake County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
176,686 Population 2,898/sq mi density
$129,399 Median Income $64,590 per capita
$525,200 Home Value $620,401 Zillow
$1,621 Median Rent 24.8% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 299 sunny days/yr
66 Violent Crime/100K 904 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$129,399 median income, 2.3% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$525,200 home value, $1,621/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
66 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
70.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Cary enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 299 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 42.7 inches. The area receives 1.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

47°F Jan (9°C) 81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average62.1°F
15% above US avg
January Average47°F (9°C)
July Average81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days299 days/yr

Geography

Elevation400 ft (122 m)
Area55.4 sq mi (143.6 km²)
Population Density2,898/sq mi
Coordinates35.7813°N, 78.8234°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyWake County County
Nearest AirportRaleigh-Durham International (RDU)
7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 42.7"
12% above US avg
Snowfall 1.3"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.61"
Driest Month (Apr) 2.99"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0414 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)12.0 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.09 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.30 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience87.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.9. Most recent: M2.5 on Mar 26, 2019.

Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 140 km
Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 94 km
Mar 26, 2019 8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina M2.5 96 km
Jul 29, 2012 7 km NNW of Wallace, South Carolina M2.5 145 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

20 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 278 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 211 km
2019 Dorian Category 2 256 km
2018 Florence Category 2 199 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 238 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 233 km
2011 Irene Category 1 224 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 238 km
2004 Alex Category 2 282 km
2004 Charley Category 1 221 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 144 km
1999 Irene Category 2 295 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 181 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 183 km
1996 Fran Category 3 66 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 141 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 239 km
1986 Charley Category 1 241 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 299 km
1984 Diana Category 4 204 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

314 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 27 fatalities, 872 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Nov 27, 1988 EF4 12 km 4
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 97 km 3
Sep 27, 2024 EF3 95 km 0
Aug 8, 2024 EF3 79 km 1
Jul 19, 2023 EF3 89 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 66 km 6
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 90 km 2
Nov 15, 2008 EF3 82 km 1
Nov 23, 1992 EF3 46 km 2
Nov 23, 1992 EF3 37 km 0
Feb 22, 1971 EF3 79 km 2
Apr 18, 1969 EF3 97 km 0
Mar 24, 1969 EF3 94 km 1
Oct 7, 1965 EF3 92 km 1
Nov 8, 1957 EF3 97 km 0
Mar 15, 1953 EF3 65 km 0
May 13, 2019 EF2 35 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 36 km 0
Apr 15, 2018 EF2 89 km 0
Feb 24, 2016 EF2 68 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

7 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: LYNCH ROAD (1,824 ac, 2008).

Year Name Acres Distance
2008 LYNCH ROAD 1,824 96 km
2006 OVERHILLS 1,436 64 km
2016 UNNAMED 1,090 94 km
2008 HIGHWAY 1 766 51 km
2019 UNNAMED 748 100 km
2009 UNNAMED 686 94 km
1995 UNNAMED 510 77 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 47°F (9°C) 4.0 in
February 43°F (6°C) 3.6 in Coldest
March 51°F (10°C) 4.3 in
April 59°F (15°C) 3.0 in Driest
May 67°F (20°C) 4.0 in
June 75°F (24°C) 3.8 in
July 81°F (27°C) 4.6 in Warmest, Wettest
August 77°F (25°C) 4.4 in
September 72°F (22°C) 4.1 in
October 60°F (16°C) 3.3 in
November 52°F (11°C) 3.1 in
December 43°F (6°C) 3.2 in

Cary has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 43°F in February to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.3 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.6") and April the driest (3.0").

View full weather details →