How much does it cost to rent in Chapel Hill, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Chapel Hill, NC is $1,763. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Chapel Hill cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Chapel Hill falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #57 out of 126 cities at $1,763/mo.

When was Chapel Hill rent data last updated?

Chapel Hill rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NC

Chapel Hill

Name: Average Rent Prices in Chapel Hill, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 61,607·57th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Chapel Hill, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,763/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

-$202

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Chapel Hill rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Chapel Hill · $1,763

More affordable than 56% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

66/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 8% below what Chapel Hill's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,763/mo

Expected by trend

$1,914/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Chapel Hill's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,725

1 BR

$1,825

2 BR

$2,085

3 BR

$2,600

4 BR+

$3,125

Research median

$2,085/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$21,156/yr

At $1,763/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Chapel Hill, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 76.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

61,607

Median income

$85,989

Median age

25.8

Renters

52.6%

Age distribution

14.9%

45.8%

18.3%

12.6%

Under 1814.9%

18–3445.8%

35–5418.3%

55–648.5%

65+12.6%

Gender

47%

53%

Male47%

Female53%

Race & ethnicity

64.9%

13.4%

White64.9%

Black11.4%

Hispanic7.6%

Asian13.4%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

12.4%

76.6%

No HS diploma3.8%

HS diploma7.2%

Some college12.4%

Bachelor's+76.6%

Housing tenure

47.4%

52.6%

Owner47.4%

Renter52.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Chapel Hill, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,322 → $1,763

up 33.4%

Income

$77,037 → $85,989

up 11.6%

Population

60,920 → 61,607

up 1.1%

Renter share

50.7% → 52.6%

+1.9 pts

Bachelor's+

78.5% → 76.6%

-1.9 pts

Median age

25 → 25.8

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Chapel Hill, NC has climbed 33.4% since 2021, going from about $1,322 per month to roughly $1,763 today. Census figures show median household income at $85,989 today, compared with $77,037 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 21.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 60,920 to 61,607 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.1% change. About 52.6% of households rent today, against 50.7% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Chapel Hill

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Chapel Hill rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Chapel Hill on your salary?

At $1,763/mo, how Chapel Hill rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 23.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 33.6% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 29.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 16.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 35.8% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 39.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

By apartment size

Chapel Hill rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Chapel Hill. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Chapel Hill

About renting in Chapel Hill, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Chapel Hill is $1,763/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,725/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,085/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,825/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,600/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($85,989/yr), Chapel Hill ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Chapel Hill an affordable city for renters?

Chapel Hill is considered affordable for renters. At $1,763/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($85,989/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Chapel Hill falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Chapel Hill?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $71,000/year (~$34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,763/mo in Chapel Hill. The local median household income is $85,989/yr, meaning the typical Chapel Hill household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Chapel Hill?

Rent in Chapel Hill has increased 3.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Chapel Hill neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Chapel Hill are 27514 ($1,647/mo), and 27517 ($1,700/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Chapel Hill is $1,763/mo.

How does Chapel Hill rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Chapel Hill is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #57 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,763/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chapel Hill?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Chapel Hill ($1,763/mo): Hillsborough ($1,454/mo), Carrboro ($1,480/mo), Durham ($1,700/mo).

What percentage of Chapel Hill residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52.6% of Chapel Hill households are renters, while 47.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Chapel Hill has a strong rental market.

How does Chapel Hill rent compare to the national average?

Chapel Hill's median rent of $1,763/mo is $202 (10%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #57 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,763/mo, rent takes ~25% of Chapel Hill's median household income ($85,989/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Chapel Hill 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Chapel Hill affordability calculator →

Nearby cities