Chapel Hill, North Carolina Population 2023

60,841

Chapel Hill is a city located in Durham County and Orange County North Carolina. Chapel Hill has a 2023 population of 60,841. Chapel Hill is currently declining at a rate of -0.23% annually and its population has decreased by -0.7% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 61,272 in 2020.

The average household income in Chapel Hill is $129,699 with a poverty rate of 19.65%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Chapel Hill is 25 years, 24.7 years for males, and 25.4 years for females.

With Durham and Raleigh, Chapel Hill makes up what is known as the Research Triangle.

Chapel Hill Population, Age, and Gender Statistics

Not surprisingly, Chapel Hill is North Carolina’s most educated city, with 77% of residents at least 25 years old holding at least an associate’s degree.

Chapel Hill Population Growth

Chapel Hill’s population has been on the rise since 1880. The most significant growth occurred between 1940 and 1950, then again between 1960 and 1970. The city’s population at the time of the 2010 census had risen to over 50,000 residents, with this census showing an official count of 57,233 people. The city’s population has increased by 3.5% since the last census, indicating that growth has slowed, but Chapel Hill is continuing to add new residents.

One of Chapel Hill’s earliest settlers was William Barbee, a man from Virginia. Barbee owned a grant of 585 acres in the area that is now Chapel Hill. In 1793, the first cornerstone was laid for the University of North Carolina. In 1819, the town was founded around the University of North Carolina. It received its charter in 1851.

During the Civil War, the area was occupied by Union troops, and though the university remained open throughout the war, the after-effects of the war forced it to shut down. In reopened in 1875.

In the 1920s, the university was expanded, and the city grew along with it. The Great Depression during the next decade had little effect of Chapel Hill. However, New Deal programs allowed the city to construct paved streets, sewer lines and hire new employees. New residential housing was constructed as many veterans moved to the area following the war. After World War II, UNC Medical School expanded with new classrooms, dorms, libraries, and other buildings. The city also continued to grow in terms of population.

The opening of the Research Triangle Park led to further growth. The technologies that were being developed in the area attracted major corporations, leading to more residents coming to the area for the educational and employment opportunities that were available. However, despite its growth, the people of Chapel Hill have worked hard in retaining small town charm and a sense of community.

Today, the city is a mixture of businesses old and new. The city has many restaurants, shops, and other attractions that appeal to residents and visitors, as well as annual events and festivals.

Chapel Hill Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Chapel Hill was:

  • White: 70.06%
  • Asian: 13.03%
  • Black or African American: 10.55%
  • Two or more races: 4.5%
  • Other race: 1.6%
  • Native American: 0.26%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander:
Land Area (mi²)
21.5 sq mi
Density (mi²)
2,826.20/sq mi
Growth Rate
-0.23% (-143)
Growth Since 2020
-0.7% (-431)
The current population of Chapel Hill, North Carolina is 60,841 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 61,272.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina Population 2023

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White42,67870.06%
Asian7,93913.03%
Black or African American6,42910.55%
Two or more races2,7414.5%
Other race9741.6%
Native American1580.26%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander1
showing: 7 rows

White

Asian

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Chapel Hill Population by Race

Chapel Hill Population Pyramid 2023

Chapel Hill Median Age

25

Total

24.7

Male

25.4

Female

Chapel Hill Adults

There are 50,669 adults, (6,733 of whom are seniors) in Chapel Hill.

Chapel Hill Age Dependency

38.7

Age Dependency Ratio

15.3

Old Age Dependency Ratio

23.3

Child Dependency Ratio

Chapel Hill Sex Ratio

Female32,19152.84%
Male28,72947.16%

Chapel Hill Population by Age

Chapel Hill Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All20,1142.4649.350.7
Non Family9,4771.7126.273.8
Married8,6343.1675.924.1
Female1,5713.0141.758.3
Male4323.1554.245.8
showing: 5 rows

3.1

Average Family Size

2.46

Average Household Size

49.3%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Chapel Hill Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Chapel Hill Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Chapel Hill Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 66.46%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 58.73%.

Chapel Hill Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$56,606

Average Earnings

$63,085

Average Male

$52,938

Average Female

Chapel Hill Earnings by Educational Attainment

Chapel Hill Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Chapel Hill Language

79.7% of Chapel Hill residents speak only English, while 20.3% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 11.18% of the population.

Chapel Hill Language

Chapel Hill Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White32,2196,17319.16%
Black5,2661,58830.16%
Asian6,74290013.35%
Hispanic3,38962918.56%
Multiple2,41051321.29%
Other85715117.62%
Native12686.35%
Islander11100%
showing: 8 rows

19.65%

Overall Poverty Rate

17.03%

Male Poverty Rate

22.11%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Chapel Hill

The race most likely to be in poverty in Chapel Hill is Islander, with 100% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Chapel Hill is Native, with 6.35% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.38%. Among those working part-time, it was 38.74%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 30.15%.

Chapel Hill Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade33.11%
High School29.34%
Some College13.02%
Bachelors or Greater6.48%
showing: 4 rows

Chapel Hill Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed67.67%
Male Unemployed43.18%
Female Employed16.88%
Male Employed8.1%
showing: 4 rows

Chapel Hill Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Chapel Hill Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Chapel Hill Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

35.2%

Overall Marriage Rate

37.6%

Male Marriage Rate

33.1%

Female Marriage Rate

Chapel Hill Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Chapel Hill Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Chapel Hill Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Chapel Hill Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

1,519

Number of Veterans

1,350

Male Veterans

169

Female Veterans

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Chapel Hill Veterans by War

count

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Chapel Hill Veterans by Age

count

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Chapel Hill Veterans by Race

Chapel Hill Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

7.96%

Veteran Poverty Rate

18.78%

Veteran Disability Rate

Chapel Hill Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

57.6%

Labor Force Participation

54.3%

Employment Rate

5.8%

Unemployment Rate

Chapel Hill Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Chapel Hill Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Chapel Hill Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

46.59%

Born in Chapel Hill

102.87%

Native Born

19.35%

Foreign Born

9.86%

Non Citizen

9.49%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

102.87% of Chapel Hill residents were born in the United States, with 46.59% having been born in North Carolina. 9.86% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Chapel Hill Place of Birth

Note: data after 2021 is projected based on recent change

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Year
Population
Growth
Growth Rate
19001,000-58,9883.22%
19302,6991,6993.36%
19403,6549553.08%
19509,1775,5239.65%
196012,5733,3963.2%
197026,19913,6267.62%
198032,4216,2222.15%
199038,7196,2981.79%
200048,7159,9962.32%
201057,233
201157,7064730.83%
201258,1794730.82%
201358,6524730.81%
201459,1254730.81%
201559,5984730.8%
201660,0714730.79%
201760,5444730.79%
201861,0174730.78%
201961,4904730.78%
202061,272-218-0.35%
202161,128-144-0.24%
202260,984-144-0.24%
202360,841-143-0.23%
202460,698-143-0.24%
202560,555-143-0.24%
202660,413-142-0.23%
202760,271-142-0.24%
202860,129-142-0.24%
202959,988-141-0.23%
showing: 29 rows

Chapel Hill Population by Year