11 of the Best Neighborhoods in Cary, NC

Posted by Ryan Fitzgerald on Saturday, February 1st, 2020 at 7:06am.

Best Neighborhoods in Cary, NC

BEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN CARY, NC LOCAL REAL ESTATE AND HOMES FOR SALE

If you're looking for the best neighborhoods in Cary, NC you should contact us and let us know exactly what you're looking for in a neighborhood. The more information you give us the more we can personalize the right Cary neighborhoods to your lifestyle. There are so many different types of homes, neighborhoods, price ranges in Cary and once we know what your priorities are it will be easier for us to help you find a great home.

One of the first questions you'll need to ask yourself is if you'd prefer to buy a new construction home in Cary or in a mature neighborhood, likely with larger lots and more trees.

Here is a jump-to list of the best neighborhoods in Cary, NC (or scroll down):

  1. Amberly
  2. Carpenter
  3. Cary Park
  4. Lochmere
  5. MacGregor Downs
  6. Preston
  7. Regency
  8. Wellsley
  9. Highcroft
  10. Copperleaf
  11. The Pines at Wake Crossing

Want to search Homes for Sale in Cary, NC? Click here!

So what is it about Cary, North Carolina that has so many people moving to the Cary area? Aside from the long list of accolades and awards, Cary has won over the last few years, the people, the affordability of homes, weather, and communities are all a part of what makes the city so great!

History of Cary

The seventh-largest municipality in North Carolina, Cary is located in both Wake and Chatham Counties. Cary is the second-largest municipality in Wake County, following Raleigh with a population of over 160,000 (a 43% increase since 2000), and the second largest town in the United States.

What many people don't know about Cary is that it is actually three times larger than Chapel Hill. Also, companies like SAS and Epic Games (creators of Fortnite) have their company headquarters located in the town of Cary, just off of exit 285. Cary is the town that first comes to mind when folks talk about schools because between Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and North Raleigh they are far and away the best of the best. The schools and the jobs are what bring most folks to Cary in the first place.

Finding a job in Cary tends to be easier than in most parts of the country and certainly easier than most other towns thanks to how quickly the area is growing. The entire triangle is growing at such a fast pace and with so many great tax breaks for businesses, it's a great place for companies to move to and set up shop. The town of Cary also offers some of the best restaurants in the area!

The Raleigh-Cary area was recently ranked as the number two best place for quality of life in the world and it was also ranked as the most affordable technology area in the United States.

For those of you who work in technology, you will love the Cary area! 

The triangle area is made up of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill even though Cary is the third-largest municipality in the Triangle. With local universities such as NC State University, UNC, and Duke University, the triangle area is known for its incredible education and commitment to excellence.

Cary is located to the west of Raleigh, south of Morrisville, and north of Apex and Holly Springs. The city is just east of Jordan Lake and southeast of Durham. While Cary's growth may be intimidating to most folks its, not like other areas where it's overdeveloped. The town is vast in size and offers plenty of greenways, nature parks and more!

Consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the United States, Cary has a crime rate of just 84 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. This is why Cary is constantly ranked as one of the top 10 safest cities in the United States. Cary certainly offers one of the best values in the country when it comes to the quality of life the town has to offer.

11 Best Neighborhoods in Cary, NC

In alphabetical order here are some awesome subdivisions in the city of Cary:

1. Amberly

If you're moving to the Triangle area, one of the great neighborhoods of Cary, North Carolina that you must check out is the Amberly subdivision. During the late 1900s, with Cary's explosive growth, came opportunity. In 1995 Amberly was zoned, and the master plan was set. Amberly was set to be converted from 16 acres of farmland to what it has become today, 1100 acres with the potential to fit over 5000 residential properties.

 It wasn't until the mid-2000s that the neighborhood of Amberly really started to develop. While the entire Triangle economy was stalling so was Amberly, it looked as though the development would be put off for a while. Once the economy began to turn, new money came to the area, and the development was back underway. There are now 2500 residential homes in Amberly with plans to continue the development.

There are a number of neighborhoods within the Amberly Subdivision including:

2. Carpenter

Carpenter is a small community in Cary, NC and located in western Wake County, North Carolina. The community is named after William Carpenter who was the first settler in the area in 1865. Carpenter was also a stop on the former Durham and Southern Railway.

The unincorporated community is located on the intersection of Carpenter-Upchurch road and Morrisville-Carpenter road just east of NC Highway 55.

Carpenter is a small 16-acre community with homes in the neighborhood ranging from the low 100s to just around one million.

3. Cary Park

The Cary Park neighborhood is one of the top communities in Cary, NC.

West Cary is growing fast and of the fastest growing areas in Wake County. Cary Park is a large reason for this growth. The community is made up of families, couples, and individuals in single-family homes, townhomes, and condos.

The focal point of Cary Park is the 28-acre lake with two miles paved trails surround the water. The trail allows walkers, bikers, and joggers, as well as dogs, to experience a great route to exercise. Additionally, the neighborhood also has volleyball courts, playgrounds, playing fields, with a big-screen TV and pool table featured in the clubhouse. You can learn more about the pool at Cary Park here.

The amenities in Cary Park is part of the reason the location is so desirable. Less than a mile away is Cary Park Town Center which includes a grocery store, CVS pharmacy, medical service providers, dry cleaners, dining options and Dunkin Donuts (for us coffee drinkers).

The homes for sale in Cary Park range from the high 100s to nearly a million dollars. Real estate in Cary, NC has been exploding with growth lately and with top communities like Cary Park, it's easy to understand why!

4. Lochmere

One of the best communities in Cary is without a doubt Lochmere. 

The neighborhood of Lochmere is one of the best, and most desirable in the town of Cary, with over 2000 homes, 3 lakes, a pool, a great neighborhood, and endless golfing!

If you are thinking of a move to Cary, NC a drive through the Lochmere neighborhood is a must. The lakes, the people, and the sense of community is strong in Lochmere. You'll see a number of people outside walking the trails with their dogs on a nice day, kids playing, and people fishing the lake!

Waverly Place is just down the road and is home to Whole Foods, Cinebistro, as well as some top Cary dining, and great local bars. You can learn more about the shops, and amenities in Waverly Place by visiting the web directory here.

A number of my friends grew up in the Lochmere neighborhood and absolutely love it!

5. MacGregor Downs

MacGregor Downs is another great neighborhood in Cary, for many of the same reasons as Preston and Lochmere. The community has magnificent homes, a great golf course, and terrific local amenities that give it a desirability factor among the best subdivisions in Cary!

MacGregor is one of my personal favorites because the neighborhood offers great access to route 1, Waverly Place, as well as green trails and nature walks that encompass the nearby lakes (both MacGregor Downs Lake, and Apex Lake).

6. Preston

Preston, Cary NC Neighborhood, Homes, Real Estate InformationPreston is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Cary, NC. Preston's central location, community, schools, amenities, have given it the status as one of the top, if not the best neighborhood in Cary. Here you can find more information on the Preston HOA. It is a golfers dream community, with 54 holes on one of the best courses in Wake County. Prestonwood County Club offers more than just golf as well, it offers a dining club, a pool, and other community amenities and events.

The neighborhood of Preston is owned by SAS when the company bought the development in 1991 and helped develop it into what it is today. The Preston Development group is actually working on several other projects around the Triangle/Wake County area, including Chatham Park.

Homes for sale in Preston are priced between the low-mid 300s to well over a million dollars.

7. Regency

Regency is one of the newer developments in Cary, and among the best neighborhoods. The Regency website does an excellent job of educating and informing it's residents as the community continues to build and develop. The location is a great one, with easy access to route 1, Waverly Place, Lifetime Fitness, great restaurants and golf courses nearby. It's also a short drive to the Koko Booth Amphitheatre.

The homes for sale in Regency Park are anywhere from the low 400s to 1.5 million-plus. The neighborhood is considered a luxury neighborhood in Cary.

8. Wellsley

Wellsley is another great Cary neighborhood that people love living in. Wellsley is a mature neighborhood with sprawling trees, larger homes and lots, typically around the 400s and up. Located just west of the Preston neighborhood Wellsley is close to restaurants, shopping, and entertainment

9. Highcroft

Highcroft makes the list of best Cary neighborhoods thanks to its family-friendly nature and the fact it, along with others on this list feeds into the Mills Park middle school and the Panther Creek High School. Highcroft is conveniently located and just minutes from the Beaver Creek shopping center. If you're looking for a great neighborhood with amenities like a pool and park, Highcroft is a neighborhood in Cary worth checking out!

10. Copperleaf

Copperleaf is on the list of best neighborhoods in Cary and for good reason. The entry into this neighborhood is right around a million dollars. Copperleaf is a mature neighborhood with large lots, 5,000 square feet plus executive style estates, and beautiful mature trees. This neighborhood is equal parts quiet, cozy and family-friendly. Copperleaf is one of the most desirable west Cary neighborhoods and is close to shopping, dining, and entertainment. 

11. The Pines at Wake Crossing

The Pines at Wake Crossing is a fantastic new Toll Brothers community with all the amenities you're looking for. It feeds into great school districts such as Panther Creek High School. If you're looking to purchase an executive-style home that you know will be a great value and a wise return on investment then look no further than The Pines at Wake Crossing. My clients have great things to say about this Cary neighborhood and the Toll Brothers builder in general, who in my opinion is one of the top builders in our area. If you're looking for your next home in Cary, this is one neighborhood you will definitely want to check out!

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Triangle MLS LogoThe data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data ExchangeTM Program of the Triangle MLS, Inc. of Cary. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Raleigh Realty Inc are marked with the Internet Data Exchange TM logo or the Internet Data ExchangeTM thumbnail logo (the TMLS logo) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing firms.

Listings marked with an icon are provided courtesy of the Triangle MLS, Inc. of North Carolina, Internet Data Exchange Database. Listing firm has attempted to offer accurate data, but the Information is Not Guaranteed and buyers are advised to confirm all items.

Listing information last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 6:29pm EDT.

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Ryan Fitzgerald Raleigh RealtyHi there! I'm Ryan Fitzgerald, a REALTOR in Raleigh-Durham, NC and the owner of Raleigh Realty. Chances are you and I share a similar passion, Real Estate! I also have a passion for building businesses, working out, inspiring others, technology, sports, and people. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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2 Responses to "11 of the Best Neighborhoods in Cary, NC"

indra wrote: We are looking to relocate to the Raleigh, Carey area and will be visiting June 1-4 and need a realtor to show us around. Looking for a single story home, 2000-2800 sq feet, amenities like pool, gym, trails and woodsy surrounding. Like Toll Bros homes. Please contact so you can show us around.

Thanks, indra L

Posted on Friday, March 17th, 2017 at 11:40pm.

Jo wrote: Hello,

We are looking to relocate from PA - we would like to try and find an older home with tons of character in the Cary area. Mature landscaping is ideal-

Posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 at 2:05pm.

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