Cary is the seventh largest municipality in North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in the Triangle after Raleigh and Durham. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town's population to be 151,088 as of July 1, 2013.  According to the US Census Bureau, Cary was the 5th fastest growing municipality in the United States between September 1, 2006, and September 1, 2007. Cary is often considered one of the safest major cities in the US, due to its extremely low crime rate at just 84 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

Raleigh is the capital of the state of North Carolina. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city. The city covers a land area of 142.8 square miles (370 km2). The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 451,066 as of July 1, 2015. It is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Raleigh is home to numerous cultural, educational, and historic sites. Raleigh has a well-educated citizenry, with recent estimates showing 91% of residents have a high school degree or higher and 47% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. 2012 American Community Survey estimates for Raleigh show that the top industries (by number of jobs) are: educational & health services; professional, scientific, management, and administrative; and retail trade.