Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The University of North Carolina and the legendary Tar Heels are the two reasons most people know about Chapel Hill, and for good reason. An elite university with a legendary sports program is something any city would be proud of, and Tar Heel pride runs deep. But Chapel Hill is so much more than just the ‘Heels. The economy stretches beyond the university with health, finance, and tech being major sectors of employment. Chapel Hill is beautiful, the housing market is stable and reasonably priced for all of the opportunities this city has to offer. Low crime rates, high-paying jobs, and a foodie scene make the city a great place not just for students, but families and young professionals as well.

Conservatives complain CH is too progressive with affluent, close-minded liberals who won’t listen to them. Liberals complain CH is too conservative, with too many racist, close-minded conservatives who won’t listen to them. If you aren’t willing to stand in line next to a family wearing “Black Lives Matter” t-shirts OR fill up your gas tank next to a couple wearing MAGA hats, you’ll probably find Chapel Hill frustrating, one way or another.

Apartments near the college can be difficult to get with all of the competition, even if you are a student. Most housing away from campus is single-family homes, with most of the buildings built when the city expanded in the late 20th century. Housing prices are generally right around the national average, and the quality of public schools around town makes Chapel Hill a great place for families. Two common complaints about living here are that drivers are notoriously bad and that parking availability is abysmal outside of residential streets.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Chapel Hill check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Chapel Hill and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

Let’s end by circling back to the positives of Chapel Hill. It’s a great college town with a variety of work and living options, and a unique atmosphere that provides options for people from all walks of life all for a reasonable price. That isn’t changing anytime soon.