“How close will I be to a full-service hospital?”

If you’re moving to Cary with kids, aging parents, or a chronic condition, health access is more than a checkbox—it’s a daily-life and resale driver. Cary scores well on both axes: a full-service hospital in town, multiple urgent-care and specialty hubs across east and west Cary, and an unusually strong network of parks, greenways, and lifestyle venues that make “healthy living” easy to practice (and easy to market when you sell).

This guide maps the healthcare spine of Cary—hospitals, urgent care, specialists, therapy—and pairs it with the active-living amenities that boost convenience and buyer demand. You’ll also see how proximity can influence showing traffic, days on market, and price resilience, with credible sources you can hand to a spouse or investor.

Anchor Facility: WakeMed Cary Hospital (full-service, in town)

Cary’s acute-care anchor is WakeMed Cary Hospital, located at 1900 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518. It’s a general hospital offering a broad slate of services—heart & vascular, critical care, surgical services, imaging, neurodiagnostics/sleep, endoscopy, rehab and more—plus an on-campus women’s pavilion for pregnancy and childbirth (tours and virtual previews available). wakemed.org+4wakemed.org+4wakemed.org+4

For relocating families, the takeaway is simple: you can live in Cary and be minutes—not miles—from inpatient and emergency capability, rather than driving into Raleigh or Durham every time something serious happens. Medicare’s facility directory also lists WakeMed Cary under provider number 340173, underscoring its recognized status in federal datasets (useful to some employers and insurers). cms.gov

Buyer tip: When touring homes in Lochmere, Kildaire Farm, Wellington, or Regency, pull up a drive-time map to 1900 Kildaire Farm Rd and record peak vs. off-peak times. It’s persuasive during resale and comforting on the “what if?” days.

Urgent Care & Same-Day Options (east and west Cary)

• WakeMed Urgent Care – Kildaire (near the hospital): 110 Kildaire Park Drive, Suite 101, Cary; typically open 8 a.m.–8 p.m., seven days with on-site X-ray and “On My Way” check-in. If you want continuity within the WakeMed system, this is a convenient front door. wakemed.org+1
  
  

• Duke Urgent Care – Cary (west side option): open most days 8 a.m.–8 p.m., treating children and adults with lab and X-ray on site; online “reserve your spot” tools help you time visits. Great for west Cary/Green Level/Amberly households. Duke Health
  
  

• UNC Health at Panther Creek (West Cary): a multi-specialty hub at 6715 McCrimmon Parkway with UNC Urgent Care at Panther Creek and a roster of clinics; the site sits at NC-55 & McCrimmon, convenient to I-540. rexhealth.com+1
  
  

Buyer tip: When comparing Amberly/Green Level vs in-town Cary or Regency, stack up urgent-care options by drive time and hours. Families with young kids and active adults love seeing “8–8, seven days” within 10 minutes.

Specialty & Children’s Services in Cary

Cary isn’t just primary care; there are deep specialty benches tied to the region’s academic systems:

• Duke Health – Cary (100 Duke Health Cary Pl) hosts multiple specialty clinics and two primary-care practices; Duke also operates pediatric specialty clinics (e.g., Duke Children’s Specialty Services at 540 New Waverly Pl) in Cary’s medical corridors. Duke Health+1
  
  

• UNC Health at Panther Creek brings additional specialties to West Cary, including vascular surgery and others, alongside the urgent care. rexhealth.com
  
  

• Behavioral health: Duke Psychiatry runs an outpatient Regency-area clinic (useful for medication management/therapy continuity after a move). Yelp
  
  

This mix matters to buyers who need subspecialty follow-ups without driving to downtown Raleigh/Durham for every visit.

Physical Therapy & Rehab Near the Hospital

If you’re rehabbing a knee or managing back pain, being close to PT is golden. A practical example: Raleigh Orthopaedic – Cary Physical Therapy sits across from WakeMed Cary at 115 Kildaire Park Drive, Suite 314, with extended weekday hours. West Cary also has multiple standalone clinics (e.g., along Green Level Church Rd), so you can match location to your daily routes. Raleigh Orthopaedic+1

Active-Living Anchors (parks & programs that boost daily health)

Fred G. Bond Metro Park

≈310 acres in the middle of town, one of Wake County’s largest municipal parks—lake, boathouse, community center, trails, challenge course—and a year-round program calendar. The scale means many Cary neighborhoods are one short drive from true “nature in town.” carync.gov+2carync.gov+2

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve / Stevens Nature Center

A unique Eastern hemlock ecosystem in the Piedmont, with scenic overlooks and interpretive exhibits. Portions of the approach to the Swift Creek overlook and facilities have documented accessibility features (van-accessible parking, accessible restrooms), which is rare and welcome in a wooded preserve. carync.gov+2carync.gov+2

Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Set on Symphony Lake with a busy seasonal lineup (concerts, cultural festivals, and the NC Chinese Lantern Festival each winter). Beyond pure fun, these venues pull regional traffic and make nearby listings easier to market; the Lantern Festival’s multi-month run is a reliable foot-traffic magnet for open-house weekends. boothamphitheatre.com+1

Greenways, everywhere

Cary maintains 95+ miles of greenways and multi-use trails (with an open-data map for exact segments). For new cyclists and families, routes like Hinshaw Greenway (with its US-1/64 over-bridge) connect everyday destinations without a car. If “walk daily, bike weekly” is part of your health plan, this network is a lifestyle upgrade. carync.gov+2data.townofcary.org+2

Why proximity influences desirability (and often, price)

Across cities, proximity to parks and greenways is commonly linked to higher home prices and faster absorption (though effects vary by context). A 2020 U.S. review found consistent positive relationships—especially for larger community parks—with influence often extending several hundred to a couple thousand feet. International and U.S. studies in 2022–2025 continue to report positive amenity effects (with nuance for park type and crowding). college.agrilife.org+2PMC+2

For hospitals/medical hubs, the literature shows mixed but often positive relationships with nearby housing—especially where facilities bring jobs, high-wage employment, and convenience—tempered by localized disamenities (sirens, traffic). A 2022 review summarized that most studies indicate positive price influence from hospital proximity, while also noting variability by city and urban form. Frontiers

Translation for Cary: Homes that are near Bond Park/Hemlock Bluffs/greenways and within short drive times to WakeMed Cary or west-side urgent care tend to draw broader buyer pools: wellness-minded families, seniors prioritizing access, and RTP professionals chasing convenience. That broader audience usually means more showings and better odds of clean offers.

Micro-Market Examples (how buyers actually use this info)

1. In-Town East Cary (Lochmere/Wellington vicinity)
   
   

   • Medical: 5–10 minutes to WakeMed Cary and WakeMed Urgent Care – Kildaire.
     
     

   • Parks: Quick access to Bond Park and several greenways.
     
     

   • Story for buyers: “Hospital and urgent care are across Kildaire; weekend wellness is the lake loop and boathouse.” wakemed.org+2wakemed.org+2
     
     

2. Regency/MacGregor corridor
   
   

   • Medical: 10–15 minutes to WakeMed Cary; Duke Psychiatry clinic and private specialists populate Regency.
     
     

   • Lifestyle: Koka Booth Amphitheatre concerts; lake trails; golf nearby.
     
     

   • Story: “Culture nights at Booth; expedited specialist access during the week.” Yelp+1
     
     

3. West Cary / Amberly / Green Level
   
   

   • Medical: UNC Health at Panther Creek (urgent care + specialties), Duke Urgent Care – Cary, plus easy I-540 access.
     
     

   • Lifestyle: Newer greenway links; quick shot to RTP; numerous neighborhood gyms/pools.
     
     

   • Story: “Live near I-540 and urgent care choices; pick trails after work without driving across town.” rexhealth.com+1
     
     

Agent Toolkit: Turn health access into a home-selection superpower

For buyers

• Health-Access Overlay in Tours: On your tour maps, show drive times to WakeMed Cary, nearest urgent care (east and west options), and one or two specialty nodes (Duke/UNC). Pair this with primary greenway access points. rexhealth.com+3wakemed.org+3wakemed.org+3
  
  

• Plan A/Plan B Clinics: Identify a backup urgent care with similar hours. Families appreciate a “redundant” plan. wakemed.org
  
  

• Therapy & Rehab Proximity: If a household member needs post-op PT, highlight the Kildaire medical park cluster (multiple therapy providers opposite the hospital). Raleigh Orthopaedic
  
  

For sellers

• Proximity Call-outs in Listings: Add “2.1 mi to WakeMed Cary; 1.4 mi to Urgent Care (8–8, 7 days); 5 min to Bond Park; Lantern Festival weekends nearby” to your bullet list. Back it with links to official venue pages/event calendars for credibility. boothamphitheatre.com+3wakemed.org+3wakemed.org+3
  
  

• Lifestyle Copy + Weekend Plan: In your marketing remarks, paint a “Saturday in Cary” narrative: paddle the lake at Bond → lunch → Lantern Festival at Booth. This connects the dots between health, recreation, and quality of life. carync.gov+1
  
  

• Greenway Map Snippet: Reference the Town’s 95+ miles and, if applicable, name the nearest trail access. carync.gov
  
  

What counts as “close enough”? (A reality check)

Academic reviews suggest the strongest park premiums cluster within a few hundred feet to a few thousand feet, depending on park size/type, with effects tapering as distance increases. Community-scale parks (like Bond) tend to have wider influence radii than tiny pocket parks. Remember, not all parks are equal—noise, parking, and crowding can flip the script in some contexts. Use local comps and buyer feedback to calibrate. college.agrilife.org+1

For hospitals, the relationship is often positive, but it’s not universal; some markets show neutral or complex patterns. In Cary’s case, WakeMed Cary’s community-scale footprint and the town’s suburban context reduce typical disamenities (e.g., constant siren corridors) seen in dense downtowns. Net-net: proximity here tends to read as a convenience amenity for more buyers than not. Frontiers

One-glance reference: Cary Health & Wellness Highlights

• Hospital: WakeMed Cary Hospital, 1900 Kildaire Farm Rd (full-service; women’s & children’s; tours available). wakemed.org+2wakemed.org+2
  
  

• Urgent Care (east): WakeMed Urgent Care – Kildaire (8–8 daily). wakemed.org
  
  

• Urgent Care (west): Duke Urgent Care – Cary (8–8 most days) and UNC Urgent Care at Panther Creek (within the Panther Creek complex). Duke Health+1
  
  

• Specialists: Duke Health clinics at 100 Duke Health Cary Pl and pediatric specialties at New Waverly Place; UNC multispecialty at Panther Creek. Duke Health+2giving.dukechildrens.org+2
  
  

• Therapy: Raleigh Orthopaedic PT across from the hospital; additional clinics in West Cary. Raleigh Orthopaedic+1
  
  

• Parks/Greenways: Bond Park (~310 acres); Hemlock Bluffs/Stevens Nature Center (with accessibility features); 95+ miles of greenways; Koka Booth Amphitheatre and the NC Chinese Lantern Festival as seasonal magnets. boothamphitheatre.com+4carync.gov+4carync.gov+4
  
  

Putting it to work: your move-in (or list-to-sell) checklist

For buyers

1. Map “Golden Triangle” Drive-Times: House → WakeMed Cary; House → nearest urgent care; House → favorite park/greenway access. Save screenshots in your decision folder. wakemed.org+1
   
   

2. Confirm Specialty Fit: If you need pediatric subspecialty, behavioral health, or vascular access, verify the clinic is in Cary versus at a regional campus (many are). Duke Health
   
   

3. Active-living audit: Walk the nearest trail segment before you offer; the habit is more likely to stick if access is easy. data.townofcary.org
   
   

For sellers

1. Lead with proximity facts (miles/minutes) to hospital, urgent care, and parks; link official pages in your digital brochure. wakemed.org+2wakemed.org+2
   
   

2. Stage for “healthy living”: bikes visible, porch seating, simple herb planters; add a one-sheet with greenway and event links (Bond, Booth). carync.gov+1
   
   

3. Time open houses alongside Lantern Festival weekends or big Bond Park events to capture regional visitors already in Cary. boothamphitheatre.com+1
   
   

CTA: Get your Cary Health-Access Map + Amenity Matrix

I’ll deliver a custom drive-time map (hospital, urgent care, specialty nodes), plus a parks/greenways matrix keyed to your short list—so you can compare homes not just on bedrooms and kitchens, but on everyday health convenience and resale magnetism.