Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a town of 179,306 people in Chatham County, North Carolina, founded in 1750.
Why visit Cary
Townapedia lists 24 museums and landmarks, 66 parks and trails, 307 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Park Place 16, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Apex Town Hall and Ivey-Ellington House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 31°F.
Weather in Cary
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Cary
Cary is a city in Wake, Chatham, and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2020 census, its population was 174,721, making it the seventh-most populous municipality in North Carolina, and the 146th-most populous in the United States. In 2023, the city’s population had increased to 180,010.
From the Wikipedia article Cary, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Cinema and theater · 4.0 mi
Open-air concert venue in Cary, North Carolina, United States of America
Great Lawn Pavilion
Cinema and theater · 2.5 mi
Post that is part of the Great Lawn Pavilion
Museums and landmarks24
Apex Town Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Town hall in Apex, North Carolina
73 Hunter Street, Apex
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Ivey-Ellington House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
135 West Chatham Street, Cary
Adams-Edwards House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Raleigh, North Carolina, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Apex Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic district in Apex, North Carolina, USA
Apex Union Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
United States historic place
Berry O'Kelly Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.3 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Calvin Wray Lawrence House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.8 mi
Apex, North Carolina, listed on the NRHP in Wake County
Carpenter Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Cary Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Dorton Arena
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.5 mi
Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina
Green Level
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Human settlement in North Carolina, United States of America
Lane-Bennett House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 7.7 mi
Raleigh, North Carolina, NRHP-listed
12 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds66
54 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes307
Asian Garden
Restaurant · Asian · 2.9 mi
Hibachi,Chinese Food. Thai style.
242 Grande Heights Drive, Cary
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Bravo's Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 2.9 mi
Casual Tex-Mex spot offering margaritas, tacos, fajitas & enchiladas in green or red sauce.
208 Grande Heights Drive, Cary
Su-Sa 11:00-22:00
La Farm Bakery
Cafe · Coffee Shop, French · 0.6 mi
4248 Northwest Cary Parkway
Mo-Sa 07:00-19:00;Su 07:00-17:00
McAlister's Deli
Restaurant · Sandwich · 2.5 mi
Easygoing counter-service chain known for its sandwiches, stuffed baked potatoes & sweet tea.
1061 Pine Plaza Dr, Apex
Su-Sa 10:30-22:30
Nepal House
Restaurant · Indian, Nepalese · 2.6 mi
Local, family-owned restaurant serving traditional Indian & Nepalese cuisine in a casual, family-friendly environment.
941 North Harrison Avenue, Cary
We-Mo 11:00-21:00
ACME Pizza Co
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.9 mi
2101 Grace Park Drive, Morrisville
Su 11:00-20:30; Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00
Abbey Road Tavern & Grill
Bar and pub · American, Burger · 1.3 mi
1195 West Chatham Street, Cary
Mo-Su 11:00-02:00
Adda Bistro & Dining
Restaurant · Indian · 3.0 mi
6105 Grace Park Drive, Morrisville
We-Th 12:00 - 14:30,17:30 - 21:30; Fr-Su 12:00 - 15:00, 17:30 - 21:30
Another Broken Egg Cafe
Restaurant · Breakfast · 1.8 mi
1121 Market Center Drive, Morrisville
Mo-Fr 07:00-14:00; Sa-Su 07:00-15:00
Awaze Cuisine
Restaurant · Ethiopian, Eritrean · 3.4 mi
904 Northeast Maynard Road, Cary
Mo-Th 16:00-20:00, Fr 16:00-21:00, Sa 11:30-21:00
295 more on the map.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers, the Tuscarora and Catawba people lived in what is now called Cary. However, their numbers were greatly reduced due to smallpox epidemics, resulting from contact with Europeans who carried the disease and having no prior immunity.
In the 1750s, John Bradford moved to the area and opened an ordinary or inn, giving Cary its first name—Bradford's Ordinary. However, most of the land remained in the hands of two men, both named Nathaniel Jones. Arriving around 1775, Jones of White Plains plantation owned 10,461 acres (4,233 ha) in eastern Cary, while Jones of Crabtree owned most of what is now western Cary. After the Revolutionary War, the community was on the road between the new capital in Raleigh and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. In the early 19th-century, Eli Yates added a gristmill and sawmill to the community, while Rufus Jones founded the first free school in the 1840s, along with Asbury Methodist Church, the community's first church.
From the History section of Cary, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Churches and places of worship39
Morrisville Christian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 3.4 mi
516 Reedy Creek Road, Cary
Shopping56
Gas and EV charging25
Schools, colleges and libraries70
Healthcare25
Dollinger and Tove Family Medicine Associates P.A.
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.8 mi
2021 Shepherds Vineyard Drive, Apex
MainStreet Family Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.5 mi
1110 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
Map of Cary
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 31°F | 3.6 in | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 33°F | 3.0 in | 1.0 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 39°F | 4.1 in | 0.4 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 48°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 50°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 40°F | 3.5 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 54°F | 34°F | 3.7 in | 0.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Apex (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Chatham County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-09-11: Tropical Depression Chantal (Tropical Depression)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Morrisville 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Apex 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Holly Springs 9 mi south, about 15 min by car
- Raleigh 11 mi east, about 18 min by car
- Fuquay-Varina 12 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Governors Village 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Garner 13 mi southeast, about 22 min by car
- Durham 14 mi north, about 23 min by car
- Chapel Hill 16 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Fayetteville 49 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ivey-Ellington House Front, Pithon314, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Apex NC Town Hall (historic), Ke4roh, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.