Chapel Hill
RANK #896 / 996 NAT · #43 / 51 NC · POP 145,919
1YR FORECAST: -1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
Orange County, North Carolina, is often recognized for Chapel Hill, home to the University of North Carolina, the oldest state-supported university in the United States. Located in the north-central Piedmont region, the county sits approximately 20 miles east of Raleigh-Durham International Airport, offering access to major cities via Interstates 40 and 85. The area blends a rural feel with cosmopolitan influences, featuring rolling hills and green countryside. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore numerous trails and greenways, including sections of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the Eno River, and enjoy parks like Eno River State Park and Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area.
Life in Orange County offers a mix of small-town charm and access to larger metropolitan amenities. Public schools in Orange County are highly rated, and the county is served by two school districts: Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Commute options include local bus services within towns like Hillsborough, and connector routes to Chapel Hill and Durham. Recent economic developments include expansions by manufacturing and healthcare technology companies in towns like Mebane and Chapel Hill. The county also sees ongoing residential and commercial construction, including mixed-use developments and efforts to increase affordable housing options.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Asteria – Disney Residential Community (Chatham Park region, impacting Orange County)
Preston Development Company
|
$500M | Under Construction/Planned |
|
Chapel Hill Residential Developments (Chapel Hill Crossing, Meridian Lakeview, South Creek)
Various
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
County Long Range Facility Plan Projects (Emergency Services HQ, Justice System, Recreation Facility)
Orange County
|
$89M | Planned |
|
Community Solar Portfolio
Various
|
$50M | Operating/Planned |
|
I-40/NC Hwy. 86 Interchange Improvements & Highway Widening
N.C. Department of Transportation
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
ABB, Inc. Manufacturing Facility Expansion
ABB, Inc.
|
$40M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Orange County scores just 9/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #896 of 996 counties. Job growth at +0.8% and median household income of $85,785 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Orange County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $395,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,316/month on average.
Orange County is losing population (-1.0% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.8% employment change). Home values are -1.4% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
In significant numbers — 6.7% of Orange County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.