State
County
Land Area
21.5 sq mi
Density
3,038.90/sq mi
2020 Growth Rate
1.06%
Growth Since 2010
14.30%
Rank in State
Rank in Country
Metro Population
658,099
Chapel Hill is a city located in North Carolina. With a 2020 population of 65,419, it is the 16th largest city in North Carolina and the 585th largest city in the United States. Chapel Hill is currently growing at a rate of 1.06% annually and its population has increased by 14.30% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 57,233 in 2010. Chapel Hill reached it's highest population of 65,419 in 2021. Spanning over 22 miles, Chapel Hill has a population density of 3,039 people per square mile.
The average household income in Chapel Hill is $123,112 with a poverty rate of 19.49%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,191 per month, and the median house value is $399,700. The median age in Chapel Hill is 25.8 years, 26 years for males, and 25.7 years for females. For every 100 females there are 88.6 males.
With Durham and Raleigh, Chapel Hill makes up what is known as the Research Triangle.
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’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.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Chapel Hill was:
2019 and 2020 population is estimated by projecting the raw 2018 numbers.
Year | Total Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | 658,099 | 6,866 | 1.04% |
2020 | 651,233 | 6,866 | 1.05% |
2019 | 644,367 | 6,866 | 1.07% |
2018 | 637,501 | 11,823 | 1.85% |
2017 | 625,678 | 7,456 | 1.19% |
2016 | 618,222 | 10,516 | 1.70% |
2015 | 607,706 | 8,470 | 1.39% |
2014 | 599,236 | 8,872 | 1.48% |
2013 | 590,364 | 8,629 | 1.46% |
2012 | 581,735 | 9,215 | 1.58% |
2011 | 572,520 | 6,253 | 1.09% |
2010 | 566,267 | 0.00% |
Race | Population | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White | 43,760 | 71.74% |
Asian | 7,948 | 13.03% |
Black or African American | 6,640 | 10.89% |
Two or More Races | 1,751 | 2.87% |
Some Other Race | 736 | 1.21% |
American Indian and Alaska Native | 155 | 0.25% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.01% |
Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
---|---|---|---|
All | 20,369 | 2.45 | 50.3 |
Non Family | 9,817 | 1.75 | 30.6 |
Married | 8,855 | 3.09 | 73.8 |
Female | 1,308 | 3.14 | 41.3 |
Male | 389 | 3.08 | 45 |
3.07
Average Family Size
2.45
Average Household Size
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 574 | 1.83% |
9th to 12th Grade | 685 | 2.18% |
High School Graduate | 2,301 | 7.32% |
Some College | 2,689 | 8.56% |
Associates Degree | 1,001 | 3.19% |
Bachelors Degree | 9,032 | 28.75% |
Graduate Degree | 15,137 | 48.18% |
Name | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 21,924 | 21,666 | 18,290 |
Asian | 4,414 | 4,063 | 3,501 |
Black | 3,081 | 2,705 | 1,168 |
Hispanic | 1,430 | 1,229 | 814 |
Multiple Races | 530 | 530 | 441 |
Other Race | 228 | 173 | 115 |
Native American | 102 | 39 | 23 |
Islander | 8 | 8 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100.00%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 83.42%.
$51,123
Average Earnings
$57,914
Average Male
$44,422
Average Female
78.98% of Chapel Hill residents speak only English, while 21.02% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 9.37% of the population.
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 33,361 | 6,423 | 19.25% |
Black | 5,463 | 1,555 | 28.46% |
Asian | 6,947 | 1,103 | 15.88% |
Hispanic | 3,019 | 437 | 14.47% |
Multiple | 1,299 | 282 | 21.71% |
Other | 668 | 120 | 17.96% |
19.49%
Overall Poverty Rate
18.76%
Male Poverty Rate
20.16%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Chapel Hill is Black, with 28.46% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Chapel Hill is Hispanic, with 14.47% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.28%. Among those working part-time, it was 38.15%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 28.94%.
36.3%
Overall Marriage Rate
39.5%
Male Marriage Rate
33.6%
Female Marriage Rate
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 1,170 | 3.06% |
Black | 176 | 3.53% |
Hispanic | 25 | 0.94% |
Asian | 16 | 0.26% |
Hawaiian | 8 | 100.00% |
5.75%
Veteran Poverty Rate
23.14%
Veteran Disability Rate
60.5%
Labor Force Participation
58.5%
Employment Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
84.23%
Native Born
15.77%
Foreign Born
8.76%
Non Citizen
7.01%
Naturalized
84.23% of Chapel Hill residents were born in the United States, with 37.83% having been born in North Carolina. 8.76% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | 65,419 | 684 | 1.06% |
2020 | 64,735 | 684 | 1.07% |
2019 | 64,051 | 684 | 1.08% |
2018 | 63,367 | 4,449 | 7.55% |
2017 | 58,918 | -736 | -1.23% |
2016 | 59,654 | 608 | 1.03% |
2015 | 59,046 | -74 | -0.13% |
2014 | 59,120 | 260 | 0.44% |
2013 | 58,860 | 210 | 0.36% |
2012 | 58,650 | 1,280 | 2.23% |
2011 | 57,370 | -36 | -0.06% |
2010 | 57,406 | 8,691 | 1.66% |
2000 | 48,715 | 9,996 | 2.32% |
1990 | 38,719 | 6,298 | 1.79% |
1980 | 32,421 | 6,222 | 2.15% |
1970 | 26,199 | 13,626 | 7.62% |
1960 | 12,573 | 3,396 | 3.20% |
1950 | 9,177 | 5,523 | 9.65% |
1940 | 3,654 | 955 | 3.08% |
1930 | 2,699 | 1,699 | 3.36% |
1900 | 1,000 | 0.00% |