Cary named best place to live in North Carolina; Morrisville, Apex also rank in top 5

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The town of Cary has been named the best place to live in North Carolina, according to a new report.

A 2026 ranking from Niche places Cary at No. 1 on its list of best places to live in the state.

The report gave Cary top grades across several key categories, including public schools, "good for families," and health and fitness.

Niche rankings are based on a range of factors such as school quality, housing, job opportunities and overall quality of life, using data from several national sources and community reviews.

Cary wasn't the only Wake County town recognized in the ranking.

Morrisville earned the No. 3 spot on the list, while Apex came in at No. 4.