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Durham

Chapel Hill

#1 in Best Places to Live in Orange County
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in North Carolina
  • 162 reviews
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A+
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      C+
    4. Nightlife
      A+
    5. Good for Families
      A+
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      A-
    8. Weather
      B
    9. Cost of Living
      C
    10. Health & Fitness
      A
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A-
    12. Commute
      A+
    View Full Report Card
    Chapel Hill is a town in North Carolina with a population of 59,234. Chapel Hill is in Orange County and is one of the best places to live in North Carolina. Living in Chapel Hill offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Chapel Hill there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Chapel Hill and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Chapel Hill are highly rated.
    About Chapel Hill...
    Population
    59,234

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $397,700
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,130
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      52%
    • Own
      48%
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    Chapel Hill Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      63.8
      282.7
    • Murder
      1.7
      6.1
    • Rape
      21.6
      40.7
    • Robbery
      67.2
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      421.5
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,645.6
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      89
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      8%
    • 10-17 years
      8%
    • 18-24 years
      31%
    • 25-34 years
      13%
    • 35-44 years
      10%
    • 45-54 years
      10%
    • 55-64 years
      9%
    • 65+ years
      11%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      45%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      30%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      14%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      8%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      4%
      13%

    Working in Chapel Hill

    Jobs
    A-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $67,426
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Chapel Hill
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    Chapel Hill Reviews

    162 reviews
    All Categories
    It's a great college town that still has plenty of professional residents. I found an area that was mostly grad students (Finley Forest) and it is quiet, safe, and well-kept. Franklin Street is full of good food and places to drink. It's close to Raleigh and Durham, so there's always something to do. Being in the middle of the state allows for fairly easy access to the beach and the mountains. I loved living there and will miss it immensely!
    Start Your Review of Chapel Hill
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    Chapel Hill is one of the best places to live in North Carolina. Being between the mountains and the beach your just a few hour drive from two completely different environments. Chapel Hill is home of the Tar Heel, making the town revolve around the competitive University that always has a fun activity going on. The school systems are incredible and will prepare all children for a higher education. Diversity is one of the most important things within Chapel Hill. Everyone has different backgrounds, making learning about new cultures and experience readily available.
    This town is very well put together. The traffic is minimal. The schools are very good and challenging. There are so many doctors who live here. The climate is quite different than San Francisco, where we moved from. The summers are sweltering, and the winters can have snow even in March! The cost of living here is reasonable. The variety of home prices is refreshing, especially coming from the SF Bay Area.