Population 27,875 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 27278
Household size in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.40 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.44 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.40 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | +0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in ZIP 27278 has 2.49 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Locally, though, the typical household here is bigger than in the Chapel Hill area overall, where it has 2.40 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.52, as it has nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 36.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 37.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 39.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.4 | 39.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.9 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
ZIP 27278 skews older than the country: its median age is 43.4, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 12.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 12.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 11.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in ZIP 27278 than nationally: 10.6%, against 11.6%. The Chapel Hill area as a whole looks much the same.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 27278
Renters in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.8% | 38.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 39.8% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.3% | 39.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 37.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −0.9 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.3% of households in ZIP 27278 rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 32.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 11.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 9.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 9.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in ZIP 27278 than nationally: 7.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Chapel Hill area. Vacancy is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1991 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
ZIP 27278 has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1997, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $860 | $889 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $909 | $951 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $982 | $1,102 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,359 | $1,501 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$499 | +$612 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in ZIP 27278 costs $1,359 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $499 a month from 2006–10, a 58% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are in the south.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 27278
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 43.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.4% | 45.7% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.3% | 48.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.9% | 53.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +18.4 pts | +10.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
ZIP 27278 is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (53.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 18.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. ZIP 27278 has a higher share of college graduates than the great majority of North Carolina ZIP codes.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.0% | 86.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.6% | 88.4% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.0% | 89.4% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.8% | 91.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +4.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in ZIP 27278 is close to the national rate: 89.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the Chapel Hill area as a whole (91.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 27278
| Period | ZIP 27278 | Chapel Hill area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 7.8% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 8.6% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −3.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 27278 has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 43 of the 436 North Carolina ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 5.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 27278 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 27278 | 2.49 | 43.4 | 10.6% | 22.3% | 7.9% | 1997 | $1,359 | 53.9% | 89.8% | 2.6% |
| ZIP 27243 | 3.00 | 37.6 | 21.9% | 12.7% | 17.3% | 1985 | $1,066 | 38.6% | 96.0% | 1.8% |
| ZIP 27705 | 2.14 | 39.9 | 10.0% | 56.3% | 10.9% | 1986 | $1,567 | 63.3% | 91.7% | 2.7% |
| ZIP 27712 | 2.56 | 46.9 | 9.8% | 9.7% | 3.8% | 1989 | $1,586 | 51.2% | 94.1% | 2.6% |
| ZIP 27231 | 2.40 | 46.4 | 6.8% | 13.3% | 10.4% | 1986 | $969 | 35.0% | 91.1% | 4.2% |
| ZIP 27708 | 2.25 | 19.8 | 10.1% | 44.5% | 7.3% | 1993 | $1,508 | 92.7% | 100.0% | 7.6% |
| ZIP 27514 | 2.37 | 34.7 | 4.0% | 49.7% | 15.1% | 1987 | $1,539 | 79.2% | 98.0% | 2.9% |
| ZIP 27302 | 2.53 | 41.2 | 9.3% | 29.9% | 8.8% | 1998 | $1,232 | 35.6% | 90.5% | 3.5% |
| ZIP 27707 | 2.27 | 35.7 | 10.9% | 53.3% | 8.6% | 1984 | $1,432 | 54.3% | 92.3% | 4.3% |
| ZIP 27510 | 2.00 | 33.3 | 5.6% | 71.7% | 9.0% | 1983 | $1,609 | 63.0% | 92.5% | 2.9% |
| ZIP 27516 | 2.60 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 30.7% | 8.5% | 1997 | $1,886 | 72.4% | 95.6% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 02889, RI · 37355, TN · 11729, NY · 34785, FL · 33764, FL · 32958, FL · 31093, GA · 29625, SC · 46176, IN · 98107, WA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 27278. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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