Chapel Hill, North Carolina has an overall cost of living index of 91.9, which is 8.1 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,613 per month, while the typical home is valued around $613,700. Households earn a median of $85,989 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$85,989
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,613
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$613,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
91.9
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,417
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,507
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,711
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,117
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
91.9
Goods
96.5
Rents / Housing
69.1
Services
95.7
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $125,090 |
| Registered Nurse | $90,700 |
| Elementary Teacher | $63,830 |
| Electrician | $60,360 |
| Accountant | $74,950 |
| Plumber | $59,490 |
| Nurse Practitioner | N/A |
| Civil Engineer | $98,550 |
| Operations Manager | $133,040 |
| Market Research Analyst | $75,230 |
| Health Services Manager | $120,090 |
| Truck Driver | $53,680 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
61,607
Latest estimate
Median Age
25.8 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
5
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,382
Per month
Avg Home Value
$480,400
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 27514 | — | $1,411 | $592,900 |
| ZIP 27516 | — | $1,425 | $468,600 |
| ZIP 27517 | — | $1,415 | $539,500 |
| ZIP 27599 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 27707 | — | $1,276 | $320,600 |
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
80°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
32.4
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
94.9%
Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 91.9. The US national average is 100, so Chapel Hill is 8.1 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Chapel Hill is $1,613 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Chapel Hill is $85,989 per year.
The median home value in Chapel Hill is $613,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for Chapel Hill is not yet available.
Tax data for North Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
