Best PlacesUniversity of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC Best Neighborhoods
2026–2027 edition · Data updated July 2026
Every neighborhood in and around University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, scored on 40 measures of daily life and ranked to fit what matters to you. Several measures below read low, and the ranked lists name which ones. To work out which city fits you best, start with the best places to live tool.
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill ranks 2,844th of 5,983 U.S. neighborhoods on the BestNeighborhood index. It scores highest on heat safety by a wide margin, and empty homes are the weak spot.
The best neighborhoods in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
BestNeighborhood is the only ranking that scores 40 measures of daily life neighborhood by neighborhood and lets you re-weight every one of them yourself.
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill's strengths and weaknesses
Where University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill ranks high
- Heat safetyBetter than 99% of neighborhoods
- BikingBetter than 99% of neighborhoods
- Short commute14.4 minutes each way, better than 98% of neighborhoods
- School gradeA, better than 96% of neighborhoods
- Internet speedBetter than 96% of neighborhoods
Where University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill ranks low
- Low vacancyBetter than only 1% of neighborhoods
- Housing crash safetyBetter than only 1% of neighborhoods
- Household income$43,689 median, better than only 5% of neighborhoods
- Cost of living vs incomeBetter than only 6% of neighborhoods
- Healthcare accessBetter than only 12% of neighborhoods
Who lives in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill runs younger than the country, and households here run smaller than average.
Residents by age
Racial and ethnic makeup has its own map. See the race and diversity map for University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill.
Who works in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, and how
Work in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill centers on education and hospitality & food. Unemployment is close to the national rate, and jobs are growing.
Largest industries
How people get to work
- Drive or carpool 26%
- Work from home 17%
- Transit, walk, or bike 57%
Life in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
The map and measures below break down dining, culture, and green space by neighborhood across University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill.
What the weather is like in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, month by month
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill sees roughly 108 pleasant days a year. July highs average about 89 degrees. January highs sit near 51, with lows near 32. The comfortable stretch runs April through June and August through October.
Show the monthly temperatures
| Month | Avg high | Avg | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 40° | 32° |
| April | 73° | 60° | 49° |
| July | 89° | 78° | 69° |
| October | 73° | 61° | 52° |
Flying in and out of University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
Raleigh-Durham International sits about 14 miles away. It is a medium hub and boarded 7.7 million passengers in 2025, with 128 nonstop destinations.
The best schools in and around University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
Schools across University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill average an A, better than 96% of neighborhoods.
Top elementary schools
- Glenwood ElementaryA · 70% proficient
- Fpg ElementaryB · 48% proficient
- Northside ElementaryB− · 41% proficient
Top middle schools
- Smith MiddleA+ · 72% proficient
- Culbreth MiddleA · 66% proficient
Top high schools
- East Chapel Hill HighA · 78% proficient
Grades come from K-12 test scores, with scores projected for schools missing data. See every University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill school and its grade on SchoolGrade.
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill measure by measure
Cards are ordered by how much each measure matters to you, so the ones you weighted highest come first. Expand to see every measure. Percentages compare University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill against the other 5,982 neighborhoods.
Common questions about living in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
Is University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill a good place to live?
Using BestNeighborhood's default rankings, University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill ranks 2,844th of 5,983 neighborhoods. It scores highest on heat safety, biking, and short commutes, and lowest on empty homes and an overheated housing market. How good it is for you depends on which of those you weight most, which the map lets you set.
Is University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill safe?
Yes, University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill is safer than 63% of neighborhoods. Safety varies a lot by neighborhood. Crime costs an estimated $437 per resident a year.
What is the weather like in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill?
July highs average about 89 degrees, and January highs near 51 with lows near 32. That works out to about 108 pleasant days a year, more than 56% of neighborhoods.
Compare University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill with other neighborhoods
Sources and methodology
Every measure on this page is scored for each neighborhood, then rolled up to University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill. Scores are absolute rather than ranked, which means a 60 in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill represents the same real quantity as a 60 anywhere else, and the ranking is a weighted average of those absolutes. The map colors come from a national scale calibrated against a population weighted random sample of 5,000 neighborhoods. That absolute scoring is what no other places-to-live ranking does: it puts a single neighborhood, a town, a metro, and a state on one scale, so the same 40 measures answer both which metro to move to and which street inside it to buy on. Read the full methodology.
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill detail on BestNeighborhood maps:
- Walk Grade for University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill: walkability, transit, and biking, measured on the real street network rather than by straight line distance.
- Noise in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill: road, rail, and aviation sound modeling calibrated against federal ground truth measurements.
- Conservative vs liberal map of University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill: precinct level election results apportioned to neighborhoods.
- Mobile and cell coverage in University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill: carrier by carrier coverage behind the cell score.
University of NC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill detail on related sites:
- CrimeGrade: neighborhood crime rates behind the crime safety score.
- ISPreports.org: provider by provider internet availability and advertised speeds.
- CoverageWatch: the car insurance premiums behind the cheap car insurance score.
Federal and public data:
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey: income, home value, rent, vacancy, commute time and mode, educational attainment, home age, age structure, household type, industry, and race.
- NOAA Global Surface Summary of the Day: the daily station record behind the monthly temperatures and the pleasant-day count.
- FAA Passenger Boarding Data: airport size and annual passenger counts.
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: reported offenses behind the tangible crime cost estimate.
- U.S. EPA Air Quality System: five year average air quality index.
- FEMA National Risk Index: expected annual loss from natural hazards.
- CDC PLACES: disease burden, preventable risk, and barriers to care.
- National Center for Education Statistics: school enrollment and assessment inputs behind the school grade.
- FCC National Broadband Map: internet and wireless availability.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: employment and job growth behind the local economy score.
- Religious activity uses a proprietary religious signal measurement.
Your priorities
Move a slider to say how much a measure matters. Zero turns it off.