About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Cary population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Cary across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Cary was 180,010, a 0.08% increase year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Cary population was 179,867, an increase of 1.69% compared to a population of 176,886 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Cary increased by 82,938. In this period, the peak population was 180,010 in the year 2023. The numbers suggest that the population has not reached its peak yet and is showing a trend of further growth. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Cary is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Cary population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Cary Population by Year. You can refer the same here

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts statistics for Cary town, North Carolina. QuickFacts data are derived from: Population Estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, Current Population Survey, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Permits.

In 2023, the population of the Raleigh-Cary metropolitan area in the United States was about 1.51 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 1.48 million people.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Government: Local Government in Raleigh-Cary, NC (MSA) (SMU37395809093000001SA) from Jan 1990 to May 2025 about local govt, Raleigh, NC, government, employment, and USA.

This dataset tracks annual diversity score from 1991 to 2023 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District

Historical population counts from the US Census Bureau census counts of 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Certified population estimates prepared by the State Demographer beginning 1981. Population density for selected years. The certified population estimates are as estimated for the given vintage year and may be different from the revised estimates and the intercensal (smoothed) estimates also produced by the State Demographer. Census counts for April 1 of given year, population estimates for July 1 of given year.

Graph and download economic data for Average Weekly Wages for Employees in State Government Establishments in Raleigh-Cary, NC (MSA) (ENUC395840210) from Q1 1990 to Q4 2024 about state govt, Raleigh, establishments, average, NC, wages, government, employment, and USA.

Statistics for moving services in cary including costs, move sizes, and other relevant data as of July 2025.

This dataset tracks annual hispanic student percentage from 1993 to 2023 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District

This dataset tracks annual white student percentage from 1991 to 2023 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Mining, Logging, and Construction in Raleigh-Cary, NC (MSA) (RALE537NRMNN) from Jan 1990 to May 2025 about Raleigh, natural resources, mining, NC, construction, employment, and USA.

This dataset contains Crime and Safety data from the Cary Police Department.

This data is extracted by the Town of Cary's Police Department's RMS application. The police incidents will provide data on the Part I crimes of arson, motor vehicle thefts, larcenies, burglaries, aggravated assaults, robberies and homicides. Sexual assaults and crimes involving juveniles will not appear to help protect the identities of victims.

This dataset includes criminal offenses in the Town of Cary for the previous 10 calendar years plus the current year. The data is based on the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) which includes all victims of person crimes and all crimes within an incident. The data is dynamic, which allows for additions, deletions and/or modifications at any time, resulting in more accurate information in the database. Due to continuous data entry, the number of records in subsequent extractions are subject to change. Crime data is updated daily however, incidents may be up to three days old before they first appear.

About Crime Data

The Cary Police Department strives to make crime data as accurate as possible, but there is no avoiding the introduction of errors into this process, which relies on data furnished by many people and that cannot always be verified. Data on this site are updated daily, adding new incidents and updating existing data with information gathered through the investigative process.

This dynamic nature of crime data means that content provided here today will probably differ from content provided a week from now. Additional, content provided on this site may differ somewhat from crime statistics published elsewhere by other media outlets, even though they draw from the same database.

Withheld Data

In accordance with legal restrictions against identifying sexual assault and child abuse victims and juvenile perpetrators, victims, and witnesses of certain crimes, this site includes the following precautionary measures: (a) Addresses of sexual assaults are not included. (b) Child abuse cases, and other crimes which by their nature involve juveniles, or which the reports indicate involve juveniles as victims, suspects, or witnesses, are not reported at all.

Certain crimes that are under current investigation may be omitted from the results in avoid comprising the investigative process.

Incidents five days old or newer may not be included until the internal audit process has been completed.

This data is updated daily.

This dataset tracks annual asian student percentage from 1991 to 2023 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of PTA North Carolina Congress Cary Elementary PTA

Greenway Analysis data consists of the data collected from weekend data collectors. The Town began collecting data in 2008. It includes information regarding methods of travel, age group of greenway users, and additional demographics.

This data is update periodically after scheduled survey periods.

This dataset tracks annual two or more races student percentage from 2013 to 2023 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District

This dataset tracks annual math proficiency from 2011 to 2022 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District

In 2022, the fastest growing private company in North Carolina was health products company Livingood Daily, headquartered in Cary. The company grew ****** percent that year. Following Livingood Daily was Hoodsly.com, which grew ***** percent.

This dataset contains the location of the Town of Cary’s four Town Council districts.To find out where to vote check out the North Carolina State Board of Elections voter search website. To find out more information visit our municipal elections page and our Council members page.This dataset is updated following municipal elections and changes in Town boundaries due to annexations.

This dataset tracks annual free lunch eligibility from 1991 to 2023 for Cary High School vs. North Carolina and Wake County Schools School District