How many renters in Cary, NC pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Cary, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

38.2% (±3.7 points) of renting households in Cary, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

30.0% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 24.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 38.2% (±3.7 points)
Paying 35% or more: 30.0% (±3.2 points)
Median share of income: 24.9% (±1.4 points)

Rent as a share of income in Cary

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Cary	Wake County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	19.9% (±3.2 points)	13.4%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	16.6% (±2.3 points)	13.0%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.8% (±2.4 points)	13.7%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.6% (±2.1 points)	11.6%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.2% (±1.8 points)	10.1%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	30.0% (±3.2 points)	38.1%	39.6%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Cary against Wake County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Cary	Wake County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	38.2% (±3.7 points)	48.2% (±1.6 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	30.0% (±3.2 points)	38.1% (±1.4 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	24.9% (±1.4 points)	29.3% (±0.5 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$87,296 (±$6,256)	$65,172 (±$1,743)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,738 (±$30)	$1,623 (±$16)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Cary, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is lower than in Wake County (48.2%).

It is also lower than in North Carolina (48.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Wake County, Cary ranks 11 of 12 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 466 of 650.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Cary

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Cary
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Cary	—	38.2% (±3.7 points)	—
Morrisville	3.9 mi	24.8% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Apex	5.0 mi	44.2% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different
Holly Springs	8.9 mi	48.9% (±9.6 points)	Higher
Raleigh	11 mi	52.1% (±2.3 points)	Higher
Governors Village	12 mi	32.2% (±22.9 points)	Not measurably different
Fuquay-Varina	13 mi	40.9% (±10.2 points)	Not measurably different
Governors Club	13 mi	0.0% (±102.2 points)	Not measurably different
Garner	13 mi	53.3% (±11.2 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Morrisville, NC (24.8%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Holly Springs, NC (48.9%), Raleigh, NC (52.1%), Garner, NC (53.3%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Wake County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
5	Raleigh	52.1% (±2.3 points)
6	Holly Springs	48.9% (±9.6 points)
7	Wake Forest	46.3% (±9.1 points)
8	Knightdale	44.6% (±11.7 points)
9	Apex	44.2% (±6.6 points)
10	Fuquay-Varina	40.9% (±10.2 points)
11	Cary	38.2% (±3.7 points)
12	Morrisville	24.8% (±5.5 points)

Showing 8 of 12 places in Wake County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Cary

Are renters in Cary rent-burdened?

38.2% of renting households in Cary pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Cary spend on rent?

The median renting household in Cary, NC spends 24.9% (±1.4 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Cary town, North Carolina (place:10740, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.