Cary, NC: Best Place to Live in the Nation Money Magazine’s Top 25

Welcome back to this week's Carolina Report.

Today we're heading north away from coastal South Carolina and our visit in Charleston, SC and expanding our search for the best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina into the heartland of North Carolina.

As you know, we are looking at the best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina with populations between 100,000 and 150,000.  As we explore these best places to live, we've included everything from that little known town everyone’s asking about to the some of the most popular destinations in the country.

This next best place ranked 23rd out of 100 Best Places To Live 2010 by CNN Money Magazine.

Today our journey takes us to an area of the northern Piedmont region commonly known as the Triangle or Research Triangle where we find another of our best places to live in North Carolina,  the town of Cary, NC, population 135,234.

I know at that point it can be a bit confusing as the North Carolina Research Triangle is considered to be Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill however, as you can see below with Cary's close proximity to Raleigh it is also considered part of the Research Triangle.

So yes, Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina.

I know what you’re saying…

“What kind of “town” has over 135,000 people?”

Well, it's helpful for you to know that in both North Carolina and South Carolina it’s basically up to the community when it comes time to incorporate to decide what to call itself regardless of population.

Take a look at this Carolina Report in which we talked about what defines a city, town or village in the Carolinas "What Defines a Town in North Carolina and South Carolina."  It will be helpful to you when looking for your best place to live.

In the case of Cary, NC this is quite fitting because even though it is the third largest community in the Research Triangle, Cary, NC definitely feels like a smaller place; it feels like a “town” and most everyone who lives there will tell you so.

It is, however, one of the fastest growing “towns” in the nation, doubling in size just about every decade since 1960 and if the US Census Bureau is to be believed Cary’s population increased over 43% in the last decade alone so you know its an incredibly popular place to settle down.

One of the things that has tempered that fast growth and nurtured Cary’s “small town” appeal has been careful long term planning and regulation including large master planned communities incorporating all the amenities you’d expect in a small town from homes and  community centers to green spaces and businesses.

I also am impressed how much Cary's residents value a strong sense of community and since most everyone who lives in Cary is from somewhere else you’ll find a lot of diversity and a good cosmopolitan mix of people.

Moreover, since much of the town is employed either by one of hundreds of firms affiliated with Research Triangle Park (Cisco, IBM, SAS, etc.) or any of the numerous local universities, colleges or medical facilities, this is a place with a high standard of living, lots of career and business opportunities and the chance your next door neighbor might have a PhD are pretty high.

Speaking of education, now would be a good time to review a few more of the intangibles we like about Cary, NC.

If you relocating your family and have young children you need to know that the Cary Public School system is ranks among the top 20 school districts in the nation for achievement and educational results.

Furthermore, living in the Triangle area there are well over a dozen colleges and universities of all sizes (Duke, UNC, NC State, etc.) easily within driving distance.

If your a lifelong learner there are a number of programs including an Osher Institute at nearby Duke University and the Center for Lifelong Enrichment at NC State.

Another nice feature to this best place to live is a very low crime rate. Cary consistently ranks high as one of the safest communities in the country.

Remember people don’t just consider Cary their best place to live because of  work.  Residents of Cary get out and play too and there are a lot of things to do.  For outdoor enjoyment, there are miles of parks and green spaces and the NC Symphony concert  at the Regency Park Amphitheater.

Head downtown for a full calendar of festivals and other cultural events including the end of summer Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival or if you so choose getting out of town and catching some big time college sports in Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill, NC.

As you may have noticed location is a big factor in Cary’s popularity and being a short car ride away from just about everything is pretty cool.

Despite sitting in one of the fastest growing areas of North Carolina,  Cary, NC definitely retains a good range of affordable housing options.  From single-family homes to townhouses and a variety of planned community living options, Cary has something for everyone.

Thanks again for joining me on my journey to the best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina with populations between 100,000 and 150,000 people.

I'll see you next week when we visit another one of our best places.  Don’t forget for more information about Cary, NC and other best places to live in North Carolina and South Carolina and learn about living in NC and South Carolina visit our NC Best Places and SC Best Places.

Take care and see you again next week!

About Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable.

Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more. Bob does not sell real estate.

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