Chapel Hill, NC vs Durham, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | DurhamDurham, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
83 violent crimes per 100,000 people were reported in Chapel Hill, NC, versus 503 in Durham, NC, a 6.0× higher rate for Durham in 2025 FBI data. Property crime also diverged, with Chapel Hill at 1,768 per 100,000 and Durham at 3,584, a 2.0× higher figure. Traffic deaths per 100,000 were 12 in Chapel Hill and 20 in Durham, putting Durham 71% higher; Chapel Hill’s violent crime rate sat at the 16th percentile and Durham’s at the 86th.
2023 Census figures show the poverty rate at 19.6% in Chapel Hill versus 12.2% in Durham, a 7.4-point gap, while per-capita income was $50,216 compared with $47,246. The comfortable income for a single person in 2024 was $112,004 in Chapel Hill and $69,029 in Durham, and for a family of four it was $164,646 versus $101,472—both 62% higher in Chapel Hill, placing that city at the 89th percentile on both measures. Job growth over the past year was +0.8% in Chapel Hill and +1.5% in Durham, a 0.7-point difference.
Median home values were $576,500 in Chapel Hill and $355,300 in Durham, a 62% gap, while median rents were close at $1,483 and $1,412. The cost-of-living index stood at 158 versus 123, with Chapel Hill 28% higher. Durham’s population of 288,465 was 4.8× larger than Chapel Hill’s 59,889, and the median age was 34.8 in Durham versus 25.8 in Chapel Hill.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Durham, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15881st pctl | 12364th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Chapel Hill, NC 158; Durham, NC 123; Chapel Hill is 28% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $576,50086th pctl | $355,30065th pctl | Median home value: Chapel Hill, NC $576,500; Durham, NC $355,300; Chapel Hill is 62% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,48369th pctl | $1,41265th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $85,82566th pctl | $79,23458th pctl | Median household income: Chapel Hill, NC $85,825; Durham, NC $79,234; Chapel Hill is 8% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $112,00489th pctl | $69,02966th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Chapel Hill, NC $112,004; Durham, NC $69,029; Chapel Hill is 62% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $164,64689th pctl | $101,47266th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Chapel Hill, NC $164,646; Durham, NC $101,472; Chapel Hill is 62% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Affordable | Housing affordability: Chapel Hill, NC D; Durham, NC B+; Durham is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Durham needs about
$58,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 158 vs 123). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Durham, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 3.1%24th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.8%41st pctl | +1.5%64th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Chapel Hill, NC +0.8%; Durham, NC +1.5%; Durham is 0.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $50,21678th pctl | $47,24673rd pctl | Per-capita income: Chapel Hill, NC $50,216; Durham, NC $47,246; Chapel Hill is 6% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 19.6%81st pctl | 12.2%53rd pctl | Poverty rate: Chapel Hill, NC 19.6%; Durham, NC 12.2%; Chapel Hill is 7.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19.6 min26th pctl | 22.7 min45th pctl | Average commute: Chapel Hill, NC 19.6 min; Durham, NC 22.7 min; Durham is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 27.1%93rd pctl | 20.6%84th pctl | Work from home: Chapel Hill, NC 27.1%; Durham, NC 20.6%; Chapel Hill is 6.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Durham, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 8316th pctl | 50386th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Chapel Hill, NC 83; Durham, NC 503; Durham is 6.0 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,76868th pctl | 3,58496th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Chapel Hill, NC 1,768; Durham, NC 3,584; Durham is 2.0 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Chapel Hill, NC A-; Durham, NC D-; Chapel Hill is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Chapel Hill, NC A-; Durham, NC B-; Chapel Hill is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Durham, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClimateClimate comfort | Humid | Humid | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: air quality isn't available for Chapel Hill, NC; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in North Carolina, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See North Carolina →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Durham, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 9 mi10th pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Chapel Hill, NC 9 mi; Durham, NC 1 mi; Chapel Hill is 8.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Weak | Target proximity: Chapel Hill, NC C+; Durham, NC C; Chapel Hill is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 484 mi67th pctl | 481 mi67th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 134 mi34th pctl | 133 mi33rd pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Durham, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,88978th pctl | 288,46597th pctl | Population: Chapel Hill, NC 59,889; Durham, NC 288,465; Durham is 4.8 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,76874th pctl | 2,40468th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Chapel Hill, NC 2,768; Durham, NC 2,404; Chapel Hill is 15% higher. |
| Median age | 25.83rd pctl | 34.824th pctl | Median age: Chapel Hill, NC 25.8; Durham, NC 34.8; Durham is 9.0 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.2%98th pctl | 55.7%85th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Chapel Hill, NC 77.2%; Durham, NC 55.7%; Chapel Hill is 21.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.439th pctl | 2.324th pctl | Average household size: Chapel Hill, NC 2.4; Durham, NC 2.3; Chapel Hill is 5% larger. |
More about Chapel Hill's residents · Durham's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | DurhamDurham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+23 | D+23 |
| 2024 presidential | D +46.0 pts | D +46.0 pts |
Full politics data: Chapel Hill · Durham
Moving between Chapel Hill and Durham
- Median rent: $1,483 in Chapel Hill, $1,412 in Durham
- Median home value: $576,500 in Chapel Hill, $355,300 in Durham
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 158 in Chapel Hill, 123 in Durham
- Median household income: $85,825 in Chapel Hill, $79,234 in Durham
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $164,646 in Chapel Hill, $101,472 in Durham
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Chapel Hill, 3.1% in Durham
- Average commute: 19.6 min in Chapel Hill, 22.7 min in Durham
- Violent crime per 100k: 83 in Chapel Hill, 503 in Durham
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More places like Chapel Hill and Durham
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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