10 Best Independent Living Communities in Cary, NC

Learn More About Independent Living in Cary, NC

This welcoming suburb is conveniently located just west of Raleigh on the southern end of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, which is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the state.

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Cary are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Cary retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Cary, NC

The median monthly cost of independent living is about $3,000 in Cary, $3,000 within the metropolitan area, and $2,600 in the state of North Carolina.

Learn More About Cary, NC

Cost of Living

The total household expenses associated with living in Cary are rated two points above the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated slightly above the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Groceries	Clothing
102	97	111	102	102	108

Income and Housing

Median Income Age 45-64	Median Income Age 65+	Median Household Income	Average Individual Income	Median Employee Salary	Average Property Tax	One-bedroom Apartment Gross Rent Estimate
$98,163 per year	$58,872 per year	$78,858 per year	$39,290 per year	$42,006 per year	$3,288 per year	$861 per month

Local Hospitals

The main hospital that services Cary is:

WakeMed Cary Hospital

• Facility type: short-term acute care
• Bed count: 190+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, Level III trauma center

Weather and Climate

Cary’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, meaning the city experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers and cool winters. The average humidity level is 67%, and humidity levels are often highest during September at about 73%.

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
40°F	50°F	30°F

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
79°F	89°F	69°F

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 78

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average annual precipitation: 43.1″

Demographics and Values

Population Statistics

Median Age	Percent of Population Over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
39.7	12.2%	82,119	2,585 per square mile	2.5

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.4%	18.7%	8.5%	7.2%	0.1%	2.7%	62.8%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the 2020 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Cary: 0/30
• Overall inclusivity: 0/100

2020 Presidential Election Results for Wake County

Democratic	Republican	Other
62.5%	35.9%	1.6%

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

Popular outdoor attractions in Cary include:

• Lake Johnson Park
• Historic Yates Mill County Park
• Fred G. Bond Metro Park
• Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
• Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park

Transportation

Public transportation in Cary is provided by GoCary, which operates six bus routes. GoTriangle operates fixed-route bus service in the Research Triangle area.