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.
Median Household Income
$85,989
Annual · Census ACS
Median Gross Rent
$1,613
Per month · Census ACS
Median Home Value
$613,700
Census ACS
Cost of Living Index
91.9
BEA RPP · US avg = 100
Studio FMR
$1,417
HUD Fair Market Rent
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,507
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,711
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,117
HUD FMR
HUD Fair Market Rent = 40th percentile gross rent · FY2024
Each category is 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
$1,602
Per month
Avg Home Value
$583,633
Census ACS
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%
What is the cost of living index for Chapel Hill?
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.
What is the median rent in Chapel Hill?
The median gross rent in Chapel Hill is $1,613 per month according to US Census ACS data.
What is the median household income in Chapel Hill?
The median household income in Chapel Hill is $85,989 per year.
What is the median home value in Chapel Hill?
The median home value in Chapel Hill is $613,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
How is the air quality in Chapel Hill?
Air quality data for Chapel Hill is not yet available.
What are the taxes like in Chapel Hill?
Tax data for North Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
