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Retirement community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Chapel Hill, North Carolina Retirement Guide

walkable neighborhoodslow crime rate
43

Retirement Score

Chapel Hill, North Carolina at a Glance

Median Home Price
$537,100
State Income Tax
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exclusion.
Avg January Low
35°F
Cost of Living Index
94 (US avg = 100)
Best For
walkable neighborhoods, low crime rate
RetireCityIQ Score
43 / 100

Things to Consider

Retirement Data

Affordability

Cost of Living Index
94 (U.S. avg = 100)Medium confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated March 2026
Median Home Price
$537,100High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,419High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026

Taxes

Retirement Tax Score
45 / 100Medium confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated March 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exclusion.Medium confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated March 2026

Retiree Readiness (Sprint 2)

Care Access Score (proxy)
20 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated April 2026
Aging-in-Place Score (proxy)
70.8 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated April 2026

Healthcare

Healthcare Access Score
20 / 100Medium confidence
CMS Hospital General Information · Updated March 2026

Climate

Avg July High
91.1°FMedium confidence
Avg January Low
35°FMedium confidence
Annual Precipitation
45.5"Medium confidence
Sunny Days / Year
300 daysMedium confidence

Safety

Safety Score
100 / 100Medium confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated March 2026

Walkability

Walk Score (proxy)
60.7 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated March 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
23.4 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated March 2026

Demographics

Population
58,919High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Age
25.6High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Age 65+
11.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Household Income
$85,940High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026

Community Profile

Owner-Occupied Housing
50.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Veterans
3.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
77.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Poverty Rate
18.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026

Diversity

White
68.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Black
10.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Hispanic/Latino
6.8%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Asian
13.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026

10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)

Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Chapel Hill using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.

Estimated monthly carrying cost

$1,164

Stress-case monthly carrying cost

$1,307

Median home price used: $537,100

Median rent reference: $1,419 / month

Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.

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