Carrboro, NC vs Hillsborough, NC

Hillsborough is moderately more affordable than Carrboro, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Carrboro scores 116 compared to 110 for Hillsborough, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carrboro 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 $1,349/month in Hillsborough — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Carrboro has cheaper rent, Hillsborough actually has lower median home values ($430,100 vs $507,100).

Median household income in Carrboro is $85,927 compared to $98,467 in Hillsborough (-12.7%). Hillsborough 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, more than the 16.4% in Hillsborough.