Chapel Hill, North Carolina Income Statistics
Chapel Hill Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Chapel Hill Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chapel Hill | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $84,975 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $76,532 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 17.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 22.3% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chapel Hill is about 17% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Chapel Hill (4.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Chapel Hill earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chapel Hill, North Carolina grew by 106.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $84,975 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chapel Hill
| Metric | Chapel Hill | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.656 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $86,947 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $70,810 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.6% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Chapel Hill, it is 0.656, higher than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $564,795 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chapel Hill, North Carolina has narrowed from about 34% to 19% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,821 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chapel Hill | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 28.7% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,385 people are unemployed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Chapel Hill is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chapel Hill, North Carolina has fallen from 6.1% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.4% in 2019.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chapel Hill, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Chapel Hill, North Carolina?
Chapel Hill has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $84,975, about 17% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chapel Hill, North Carolina rose 106%, from $41,253 to $84,975. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +106% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Chapel Hill in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chapel Hill, North Carolina was $85,425, about the same as in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Chapel Hill in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chapel Hill, North Carolina was $73,961. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $84,975.
Is Chapel Hill, North Carolina a high-income area?
Yes. 17% of adults in Chapel Hill, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 22% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Chapel Hill is 0.656. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chapel Hill, North Carolina has narrowed from about 34% to 19% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,821 since 2009.
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