AreaProfile

Compare

Apex vs Cary

Which is the better fit for you?

Apex, NC
82
Area Score
Top 1% nationally
Cary, NC
77
Area Score
Top 4% nationally

Apex receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

Signals

Apex
Cary
Opportunity: Apex is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
92 · Top 1%
vs
87 · Top 2%
Growth: Apex is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
82 · Top 4%
vs
54 · Top 43%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs
72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience: Cary is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs
72 · Top 34%
Housing affordability: Apex is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
89 · Top 35%
vs
85 · Top 42%
Schools: Apex is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
83 · Top 10%
vs
81 · Top 12%
Access: Cary is the more favorable of the two.
Access
96 · Top 33%
vs
97 · Top 29%
Economic stability: Apex is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
84 · Top 3%
vs
74 · Top 19%

Measured values

MetricApexCarySource period
Population70,630179,3062024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$144,135$134,9052024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$60,473$67,4092024 ACS 5-Year
Population density2,624/sq mi2,941/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$576,100$580,2002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,902$1,7382024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate76.5%66.6%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate2.7%2.9%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)0.5%0.4%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher69.5%70.5%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate2.2%5.7%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)1,63068512 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents23.13.812 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)13.4%-12.0%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high91°F91°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low32°F32°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation46.1"46.1"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport12 mi7 miNASR current cycle
Average commute26.6 min24.0 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age36.440.22024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools21312024-25 school year
Students per teacher17.0016.672024-25 school year
Math proficiency64.9%62.1%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency71.3%70.3%2019-20 school year
Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility19.0%25.3%2024-25 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Apex
83
Your Score
82
Area Score
Cary
78
Your Score
77
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Apex, NC · Cary, NC · How this is calculated: methodology