Hi Lori...so now Cary is on the radar? Continuing your tour of the eastern Seaboard, eh?
I can't recommend anyplace to live as I'm not familiar with rentals in the area, but be aware that it is very different from LI where real estate agents really do not handle rentals here the way they do on Long Island.
Public transportation is lacking around here, you can check out
www.townofcary.org and look at the Go Cary buses under "services".