How many renters in Chapel Hill, NC pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Chapel Hill, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

60.8% (±4.0 points) of renting households in Chapel Hill, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

51.6% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 36.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 60.8% (±4.0 points)
Paying 35% or more: 51.6% (±3.5 points)
Median share of income: 36.0% (±2.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Chapel Hill

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Chapel Hill	Orange County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	10.4% (±2.4 points)	10.8%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	9.2% (±2.1 points)	9.9%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	10.4% (±2.5 points)	11.8%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.1% (±2.8 points)	9.4%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.2% (±2.0 points)	9.6%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	51.6% (±3.5 points)	48.5%	39.6%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Chapel Hill against Orange County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Chapel Hill	Orange County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	60.8% (±4.0 points)	58.1% (±3.2 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	51.6% (±3.5 points)	48.5% (±2.7 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	36.0% (±2.0 points)	34.2% (±1.4 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$50,439 (±$4,585)	$49,216 (±$3,201)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,613 (±$56)	$1,496 (±$41)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Chapel Hill, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Orange County (58.1%).

It is also higher than in North Carolina (48.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Orange County, Chapel Hill ranks 2 of 4 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 177 of 650.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Chapel Hill

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Chapel Hill
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Chapel Hill	—	60.8% (±4.0 points)	—
Carrboro	2.6 mi	55.9% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Governors Village	5.3 mi	32.2% (±22.9 points)	Lower
Governors Club	6.0 mi	0.0% (±102.2 points)	Not measurably different
Briar Chapel	8.3 mi	70.9% (±45.8 points)	Not measurably different
Durham	8.7 mi	48.5% (±2.5 points)	Lower
Fearrington Village	9.2 mi	88.6% (±28.9 points)	Not measurably different
Hillsborough	11 mi	52.8% (±16.2 points)	Not measurably different
Efland	13 mi	88.5% (±53.5 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Governors Village, NC (32.2%), Durham, NC (48.5%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Orange County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Efland	88.5% (±53.5 points)
2	Chapel Hill	60.8% (±4.0 points)
3	Carrboro	55.9% (±6.5 points)
4	Hillsborough	52.8% (±16.2 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Chapel Hill

Are renters in Chapel Hill rent-burdened?

60.8% of renting households in Chapel Hill pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Chapel Hill spend on rent?

The median renting household in Chapel Hill, NC spends 36.0% (±2.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Chapel Hill town, North Carolina (place:11800, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.