It’s kinda sweet to live in a town, especially when the town still has the urban feel of a city. You can still say that you’re “going into town” to do your shopping, and there’s even an actual town hall. It’s the best of both worlds.
What’s a bedroom community? It’s a commuter town. It’s a place where people sleep, but that’s all they really do, because they work in neighboring cities. In Cary’s case the cities are Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, so thankfully their commutes aren’t long.
Cary has a reputation for drawing Yankees from other areas, and so the running joke is that Cary actually stands for “Concentrated Area of Relocated Yankees.” Less than 30 percent of Cary’s population were actually born here, but it’s not only Yankees that love Cary. Almost 20 percent of the people also came from outside the country. It’s kind of like a hidden melting pot.
That is a BIG claim, huh? Well Cary can back it up. Cary is consistently named one of the safest places to live both regionally and nationally, the FBI released crime data in in 2013 that actually named it the lowest in total crime rate in America among all cities with populations of 100,000-500,000. Told you.
The Cary Tennis Park, USA Baseball National Training Complex, and the WakeMed Soccer Park are located in Cary, a NCAA Championship City. They have a reputation as an amateur sports Mecca by hosting dozens of championships. In fact, Cary has hosted or is scheduled to host 18 NCAA championships and 29 ACC championships.
Nearby Research Triangle Park is one of the largest in the country. Why is this important to Cary? Jobs. The park already employs 39,000 people at far too many high tech companies to name here. And a new master development plan released in 2012 is going to allow room for more than 100,000 more employees.
In the last five years alone Cary’s population has grown by 20,000! It’s suspected that all those jobs in the Triangle, all the great educational opportunities (stay tuned for those), and the safety factor bring the people (not just Yankees) to this town in droves.
Cary’s public schools rank among the very best, and must inspire a real love for learning because more than 60 percent of Cary residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Just to compare, the rest of the country comes in at just under 30 percent with a bachelor’s degree.
Sure, Cary is a hop, skip and jump to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, but that’s not all. You can be lying on the beach within a couple of hours drive, or turn around and go hiking in the mountains in another few hours.
All that activity, schooling, and work involves drinking a lot coffee, of course. There’s several local coffee shops with a variety of atmospheres for you to get a great cuppa joe. You can choose between Crema Coffee & Bakery, It’s a Grind Coffee House, Fresca Cafe and Gelato, Java Jive, Gather, Coffee & Crepes and more. You’ll have no problem finding organic, fair-trade, sustainable coffee either. Although the coffee obsession isn’t too surprising, since...
If you’re looking for a great place for higher education, you’re in luck. Many people move to Cary just for its proximity to great universities like N.C. State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a little school you might have heard of called Duke University.
Cary has a lot of great food, but the Turkish-Mediterranean food at Bosphorus is to die for. It’s not just the best in Cary, it’s the best in the whole triangle area. Their hummus, grape leaves and tabbouli are the best you’ll ever have, their lamb kofta is ridiculous and their baklava is the stuff of poetry. You can even bring your own bottles of wine in for no extra charge.
Love to hike, bike, jog or take long walks in a beautiful setting? Cary has a staggering 70 miles of recreational amenities and 36 greenway trails open sunrise to sunset. There’s also the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.
Cary’s gone above and beyond to create some gorgeous spots for people to enjoy the outdoors. There are 29 park areas, including the 310-acre Bond Park with a lake for boating. You’ll always find a space for everything from a summer picnic, quiet contemplation, a serene afternoon on the water, to even letting your best furry friend play off-leash.
All the city’s greenways are excellent for biking, but Cary residents are actually making it easier for bikers wide outside road lanes, striped bike lanes, official bicycle routes and even multi-use trails. Don’t let all that work go to waste.
You’ll find it easy to get fresh and healthy food in Cary with the four farmers markets in town. You might even see a cooking or gardening demonstration. If you want the freshness delivered, join up with the local CSA.
You’ll quickly notice that most people in Cary are pretty fit. They’re known for loving to run, jog, bike, and do yoga. And it’s not just me saying to so. In 2013, the American College of Sports Medicine placed the Raleigh-Cary area #15 among the fittest cities in America.
Try the cranberry chocolate bread, the walnut sage bread, or the incredible sourdough . La Farm Bakery has the best croissants, scones and pastries in all of Cary. They have great other food, too - but don’t even think of going there without trying the white chocolate mini baguette.
Everyone In Cary ends up here at one point, but only because this is where all the excitement happens. Big name concerts, the Hob Knob jazz series the NC Symphony, and even summer outdoor movies on the lawn. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy the view.
Women in Cary looking to change the world are in great company. NerdWallet put the Raleigh-Cary area number on its top 10 list of cities for women entrepreneurs in 2013. And there are plenty of networks, classes and support for women to get inspired.
All accolades, education, attractions, art and culinary prowess aside, Cary is a simply a beautiful place to call home, and the people know it. Chances are you’ll figure it out pretty quick once you get here.
