Mebane receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mebane
Chapel Hill
Opportunity
59 · Top 44%
vs58 · Top 46%
Growth
57 · Top 37%
vs41 · Bottom 34%
Climate
71 · Top 49%
vs77 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
59 · Top 49%
vs60 · Top 49%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs55 · Bottom 15%
Schools
50 · Bottom 48%
vs80 · Top 13%
Access
81 · Bottom 24%
vs94 · Top 42%
Economic stability
68 · Top 33%
vs38 · Bottom 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Mebane | Chapel Hill | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,538 | 61,607 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,174 | $85,989 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,148 | $51,406 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,598/sq mi | 2,840/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $338,900 | $613,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,283 | $1,613 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.5% | 47.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.4% | 76.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 18.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 257 | 137 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 13.2 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -44.8% | -51.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.3" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 31 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 21.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 25.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 22 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.60 | 13.19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 37.3% | 52.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 49.3% | 64.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 74.6% | 34.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Mebane
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Chapel Hill
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Mebane
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
Chapel Hill
63
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Mebane, NC · Chapel Hill, NC · How this is calculated: methodology