Preston, Cary
Living & working in Preston, Cary
Preston is a master-planned, golf-course community located in Cary, North Carolina, situated between Cary Parkway and Davis Drive, and extending toward High House Road. Developed primarily from 1989 through the 1990s, the subdivision is dominated by upscale single-family detached homes built on lots ranging from 0.3 to over 0.5 acres, alongside townhomes, villas, and condominiums. The neighborhood is built around the private Prestonwood Country Club, which includes three 18-hole championship golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, and multiple swimming pools. Daily outdoor recreation is centered on localized green spaces, including the Preston Village Greenway, Cary Tennis Park, and the neighboring Fred G. Bond Metro Park to the south, which features a lake, boat rentals, and hiking trails. Grocery and retail needs are met at nearby commercial nodes such as High House Crossing, Stone Creek Village, and Parkside Town Commons.
While Preston is primarily residential, its local economy is heavily integrated with the surrounding Research Triangle region, placing residents near major corporate campuses for companies like the SAS Institute, MetLife, and IBM. Remote workers utilize regional coworking facilities, including Towerview Office Suites at Preston Corners, Spaces Cary on Towerview Court, and The Coven on Shannon Oaks Circle. Regional vehicular connectivity is anchored by Davis Drive and High House Road, providing pathways to North Carolina Highway 54, North Carolina Highway 55, and Interstate 40. Transit needs are supported by the local GoCary Route 4 bus, which runs along High House Road and connects the area directly to the Cary Depot transit hub. These transportation links position Preston within a 12-minute drive of both the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Research Triangle Park.
The numbers
Preston, Cary is a residential / low-commercial pocket of Raleigh-Durham, with 13 businesses mapped within walking distance. Its walkability rates 38/100 — on the lower end for walkability in Raleigh-Durham. Local businesses average 4.71★ on Google, and medium foot traffic peaking weekday daytime.
For getting around, transit access scores 6/100 (Poor) — on the lower end for transit access in Raleigh-Durham. Reaching Downtown Raleigh (~20.4 km) takes about 118.1 min by transit versus 31.4 min driving. Typical drive times to key destinations average 14.7 min.
Environmentally, current air quality is good (AQI 61), on the lower end for air quality in Raleigh-Durham.