Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Chapel Hill, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

61,607

Median Agei

25.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

62.8%38,670

Asian

13.4%8,232

Black

11.3%6,943

Hispanic/Latino

7.6%4,658

Two or More

4%2,487

Other

0.6%347

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.4%255

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%15

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

0.8%258

High School Diploma

6.4%2,024

Some College (<1 yr)

1.6%498

Some College (1+ yr)

6.5%2,051

Associate's Degree

4.4%1,393

Bachelor's Degree

31.4%9,984

Master's Degree

21.8%6,918

Professional Degree

10.2%3,228

Doctorate

13.3%4,222

HS or Higher

96.2%

BA or Higher

76.6%

Graduate+

45.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$613,700

Median Renti

$1,613

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

47.4%10,048

Renter-Occupied

52.6%11,141

Total Units

23,581

Homeownership

47.4%

Vacancy Rate

10.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

1%96

$50K–$100K

1.1%106

$100K–$150K

1.7%168

$150K–$200K

2.3%227

$200K–$300K

8.5%852

$300K–$500K

21.7%2,185

$500K–$1M

47.9%4,809

$1M+

16%1,605

Rent Distribution

Under $500

395

$500–$750

361

$750–$1,000

618

$1,000–$1,250

1,234

$1,250–$1,500

2,002

$1,500–$2,000

3,609

$2,000+

2,630

Year Built

2020 or later

2%477

2010–2019

12.8%3,021

2000–2009

17.3%4,086

1990–1999

13.8%3,265

1980–1989

18.6%4,388

1970–1979

14.3%3,378

1960–1969

9.7%2,276

1950–1959

5.5%1,295

1940–1949

2.7%642

1939 or earlier

3.2%753

Heating Fuel

Electricity

57.1%12,105

Utility Gas

40.5%8,572

Bottled/LP Gas

1.9%396

Wood

0.2%37

No Fuel

0.2%37

Solar

0.1%16

Other

0.1%16

Fuel Oil

0%10

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$85,989

Mean Household Incomei

$145,081

Per Capita Incomei

$51,406

Poverty Ratei

15.3%

Unemploymenti

4.5%

Labor Forcei

31,436

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

9.3%1,970

$10K–$15K

2.5%527

$15K–$20K

3.7%784

$20K–$25K

3.1%656

$25K–$30K

2.4%500

$30K–$35K

2.7%572

$35K–$40K

3.6%759

$40K–$45K

2.1%455

$45K–$50K

2.4%517

$50K–$60K

5.8%1,236

$60K–$75K

8.2%1,740

$75K–$100K

9.2%1,946

$100K–$125K

6.7%1,421

$125K–$150K

5.5%1,160

$150K–$200K

9.3%1,965

$200K+

23.5%4,981

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

629

Residentsi

1,195

Avg. Tenant Renti

$473/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

13 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing267 homes86% occupied$565/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers209 homes91% occupied$390/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 860 homes87% occupied$431/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC80 homes98% occupied$430/mo rent

811/PRAC13 homes100% occupied$395/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $85,989/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $26K/yr

77.3%

Very low income$26K–$43K/yr

18.1%

Low income$43K–$69K/yr

3.3%

Moderate / aboveOver $69K/yr

1.3%

Who Receives This Housing

69.8% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

73.6% of subsidized households are minority

27.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

40.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

9,40915.3%

By Region

Top Countries

China

1,878

India

997

Korea

839

Mexico

635

Guatemala

416

United Kingdom

283

Philippines

271

Canada

225

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

29,039

Avg. Commutei

19.5 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

29,978

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,448(2.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.9%Insured

5.1%Uninsured