Community Guide to Chapel Hill

City: Chapel Hill

Zip Codes: 27514-27517, 27599, 27707 

Counties: Orange, Durham, Chatham 

Municipalities:

• Orange: Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Mebane
• Durham: Durham, Chapel Hill (small portion), Morrisville (small portion), Raleigh (small portion)
• Chatham: Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill (small portion), Goldston, Pittsboro, Siler City 

Area: 21.58 sq. mi. 

Population: 61,960 (2020) 

Demographics: The breakdown of racial and ethnic groups are: White (70.1%); Asian (13%); Black or African American (10.6%). The median age for residents is 25.2. In 2017-2021, the median household income of households was $77,037. 

Brief History: The Town of Chapel Hill was founded in 1793. The history of the town is closely tied to the local university, as the UNC board of trustees selected the area around New Hope Chapel as the location for the first state university the same year. 

Area Info: Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh make up “The Research Triangle” aka “The Triangle”. The Triangle nickname refers to the three universities located in the area: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a population of just over 60,000, Chapel Hill is the 17th-largest municipality in the state.

Historic Places & Cultural Places of Interest: Ackland Art Museum, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, Carolina Basketball Museum 

Amenities: Residents shop at University Place (the only enclosed mall in Chapel Hill), Meadowmont Village, and Eastgate 

Parks and Recreation: The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department manages over 730 acres of public spaces. This includes parks, recreational facilities, athletic fields, open green spaces, and trails. Residents enjoy recreational opportunities on the 17.6 miles of urban greenways and trails (which also provide alternative transportation to areas in the town). 

Public Transportation: The Town of Chapel Hill is served by GoTriangle, providing commuter services between the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Hillsborough.

Education: Private NS-12 and NS-6 schools including Emerson Waldorf School, and Montessori Day School, and highly ranked higher education including The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

Explore Chapel Hill with Capital Raleigh Realty

Whether you're moving to a new home or selling your old one, or if you would simply like to know more about a city, Capital Raleigh Realty agents are the local experts who are here to help with all your real estate needs across Greater Raleigh and surrounding areas. Our team will be happy to answer your questions! Connect with us online or call 919.389.9614 to speak to agents in our Raleigh office.

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To see what's currently on the market in this corner of the Research Triangle, browse our real estate listings in Chapel Hill NC, or view all of our own listings here. You may also be interested in reading our buyer's guide or our seller's guide.

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