Carrboro, NC vs Chapel Hill, NC

Carrboro is moderately more affordable than Chapel Hill, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Carrboro scores 116 compared to 126 for Chapel Hill, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chapel Hill can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carrboro is $1,337/month compared to $1,483/month in Chapel Hill — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Carrboro is more affordable at $507,100 median vs $576,500.

Median household income in Carrboro is $85,927 compared to $85,825 in Chapel Hill (+0.1%). Carrboro offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Carrboro spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, less than the 20.7% in Chapel Hill.