Where’s the Best Place to Live in North Carolina?

Best place to live in North Carolina

Photo courtesy of downtowncary.org.

Money magazine recently named Cary, North Carolina as the best place to live in North Carolina, and the 37th  best place to live in the US.  “Cary offers a solid school system, safe streets, healthy job opportunities – plus 39 greenway trails and a massive nature preserve,” according to Money.

The Town of Cary

SAS Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina

Photo courtesy of sas.com.

The Town of Cary provides the benefits of small-town living with the perks of a thriving metropolis. The town has a median population of 155,227, which has grown approximately 64 percent since 2000.  Cary is situated between Raleigh and Research Triangle Park, offering easy access to the Raleigh Durham International Airport, NC State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Employers in Cary

Cary is home to major employers such as SAS, Fidelity, Verizon, MetLife, and Relias Learning, among others. According to Money magazine, jobs in Cary are expected to increase at a rate of 11.3% over the next five years.  Cary residents who commute to work in Raleigh or RTP can look forward to commute times that may be cut in half, thanks to passing the Wake Transportation Bond earlier this month.

Downtown Cary

Downtown Cary North Carolina

Image courtesy of the Town of Cary.

Downtown Cary North Carolina

Photo courtesy of The Cary.

Downtown Cary is in the midst of several major revitalization projects: the Academy Street streetscape, upgrading underground utilities and adding new benches. Cary is also working on a $5 million downtown park.

“You can start to see, but the cool part is that you can start to feel it,” said Ted Boyd, Cary’s downtown development manager. “Especially in the evenings people are walking and strolling around downtown and sitting outside grabbing a bite to eat.”

Cary Parks and Greenway

Cary also has amazing parks and outdoor spaces, with a total of 35 parks and 82 miles of greenway.  Recently, Cary was awarded the National Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.  According to Doug McRainey, Cary’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, the quality of the Parks Department is a reflection of one of Cary’s major priorities. “It’s the extensiveness of our programs, our well-designed facilities and our many unique features,” for example, the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Koka Booth Amphitheater and WakeMed Soccer Park (home of the Carolina Railhawks).
“One thing people universally praise about Cary is the quality of our parks,” McRainey said. “Cary and its citizens embrace quality of life and the town makes an investment in that system.” Living in Cary is also safe and affordable, with median home prices of $319,000 and average property taxes of $3,168. All of these things are what makes Cary the best place to live in North Carolina.
There is so much more to say about Cary, and we would love to tell you all about it!  Visit Real Estate Expert’s web site to learn about the best neighborhoods in Cary NC.
Give us a call at 919-813-6449 or send us an email to  [email protected] to find out more about living in Cary, and visit our website to view current homes for sale in the area.