The Town FilesChapel Hill, North Carolina
Town in Orange County · population 61,960 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $613,700
- Household income
- $85,989
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 25.8
Chapel Hill is a town of 61,960 people in Orange County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $613,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 100% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 100% of North Carolina towns.
How Chapel Hill ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chapel Hill is worth $613,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 7.1 times the median household income of $85,989, which is more affordable than 3% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,613 a month. 47.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chapel Hill | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $613,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,613 | $969 |
| Median household income | $85,989 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 47.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Chapel Hill
| People | Chapel Hill | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.3% | — |
| Work from home | 28.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Chapel Hill
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chapel Hill since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 19, 2019 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 28, 2016.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 78,431 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,229 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Chapel Hill itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Chapel Hill
22 public schools with 12,379 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill High | 9-12 | 1,638 | 16.4 |
| East Chapel Hill High | 9-12 | 1,411 | 16.0 |
| Smith Middle | 6-8 | 749 | 12.9 |
| Margaret B. Pollard Middle | 6-8 | 742 | 18.6 |
| McDougle Middle | 6-8 | 705 | 11.4 |
| Culbreth Middle | 6-8 | 664 | 12.1 |
| North Chatham Elementary | PK-5 | 623 | 14.5 |
| Phillips Middle | 6-8 | 572 | 10.8 |
| New Hope Elementary | PK-5 | 538 | 11.4 |
| FPG Elementary | PK-5 | 517 | 13.6 |
| Woods Charter (charter) | K-12 | 512 | 9.3 |
| McDougle Elementary | PK-5 | 483 | 12.4 |
Towns near Chapel Hill
- Carrboro, NC2.6 mi · 21,295 people · home $539,400
- Briar Chapel, NC8.3 mi · 5,108 people · home $570,300
- Durham, NC8.7 mi · 283,506 people · home $392,800
- Fearrington Village, NC9.3 mi · 2,557 people · home $472,600
- Hillsborough, NC10.8 mi · 9,660 people · home $460,100
- Morrisville, NC13.0 mi · 29,630 people · home $518,800
- Pittsboro, NC15.2 mi · 4,537 people · home $376,300
- Cary, NC15.9 mi · 174,721 people · home $580,200
Chapel Hill questions
Is Chapel Hill, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chapel Hill scores better for retirees than 37% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 1%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.8).
How much does a house cost in Chapel Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in Chapel Hill is valued at $613,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,989, so homes cost about 7.1 times income. Median rent is $1,613 a month.
What is the weather like in Chapel Hill?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Chapel Hill get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chapel Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 19, 2019. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)