2026 Compare Cities Economy:
Cary, NC vs Ashland, VA

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Highlights
- Household income in Ashland, is 51% less than it is in Cary and is 24% below the National Average.
- Cary unemployment rate is 3.1%.
- Ashland unemployment rate is 3.9%.
 Cary, NCAshland, VAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.9%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.8%1.6%
 Future Job Growth44.6%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock5.8%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$55,710  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$55,521$69,021
 Family Median Income$140,789  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Cary, NCAshland, VAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock6.9%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K1.1%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock13.1%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K4.2%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock9.2%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K5.4%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock15.5%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K11.6%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock12.4%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K13.3%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock4.1%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Cary, NCAshland, VAUnited States
 Management, business, finance25.6%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock2.2%6.5%
 Community, social services2.0%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.5%1.2%
 Education, library7.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock1.9%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.4%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock1.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement0.8%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance1.6%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.5%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support16.1%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock1.1%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair2.8%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock20.3%13.1%
Reviews for Cary    63 Reviews

Cary is up-and-coming “cool.” The downtown is revitalized and growing. The town takes urban planning very seriously. The home prices have definitely spiked in the last  More

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Over 9 years ago

I've lived in NY, CT, MA, and in Miami FL. Now here in Cary NC for the past 10 years. For what I want and need at this phase of my life, I really like it here! All the  More

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Over 9 years ago

As a Real Estate Agent, I consider Cary the most central location in the Triangle, it basically takes you twenty minutes to get to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough,   More

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Reviews for Ashland    3 Reviews

Over 14 years ago

Ashland Is by far the best place to live without Living In the city of richmond yes the housing is more but its safer and has THE BEST SCHOOL IN VA. My brother loves his  More

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Where to begin: With a kid in college in this town I have access to all the good and bad opinions. Have you ever heard of Homemades By Suzanne? Great Deli for eat in  More

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Ashland is built around an excellent small liberal arts college, Randolph-Macon College. The school enjoys a great reputation with both Richmond and D.C. offering  More

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