Community Profile
Welcome to Chapel Hill and Carrboro, nestled in the rolling, wooded Piedmont of North Carolina. Our towns are ideally located three hours from the Atlantic coast and three hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy a variety of recreational activities.
As one of the three “points” of The Research Triangle, Chapel Hill, along with Raleigh and Durham, continually receives accolades for being a top location to live and do business. Most recently the A & E channel recognized Chapel Hill as the #2 city in their “Top Ten Cities to Have it All” and Money magazine rated the town as the #1 “Best Place to Live in the South.”
Visit the official town and vistor’s websites at:
Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park, located centrally in the Triangle Area, was founded in 1959. At 7,000 acres, RTP is home to 131 companies, employing 38,500 individuals. Of these companies, 100 are involved in research and development. The average salary of an RTP employee is $56,000. For more information, visit www.rtp.org.
Retirement
Chapel Hill and Carrboro have many benefits and opportunities for retirees. From the cultural, educational, recreational and medical facilities, to the mild climate and atmosphere, the area is becoming one of the most sought after locations for retirement. Just recently, Carrboro was ranked one of the top 5 places to retire by U.S. News and World Reports.
Public Schools
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System is considered to be one of the best in the nation. Consistently ranking at the top of the state in student test scores (Average SAT combined score-1175), the System also boasts the lowest dropout rate in the state. The System consists of 16 schools: 9 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high schools and the UNC Hospital School. The per-pupil expenditure is $8,922.
For more information:
919-967-8211, www.chccs.k12.nc.us
UNC Hospitals
The UNC Health Care System is a not-for-profit integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. The cornerstone of UNC Health Care is UNC Hospitals. Made up of the N.C. Memorial and Neurosciences Hospitals and the N.C. Women's and Children's Hospitals which opened in 2002, this 688-bed medical center is consistently ranked among the best in the country. Another integral component of UNC Health Care is the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally eminent research institution. For more than 100 years the School of Medicine has trained physicians from around the world to care for the people of North Carolina. UNC Health Care extends beyond Chapel Hill into the greater Triangle area through its community practices; home health and hospice services in seven central North Carolina counties; and Rex Healthcare and its provider network in Wake County. Such practices provide services to nearly 500,000 outpatients annually.
UNC Health Care / UNC Hospitals:
919-966-4131, www.unchealthcare.org
The University of North Carolina
In 1795, UNC-Chapel Hill became the first State University in the country to open its doors. It consistently ranks among the great institutions of higher education in the nation. Over 82% of the University’s 2,598 full-time faculty members have earned the highest degree in their fields. The University’s 26,028 students come from all 100 North Carolina counties, all 50 states and more than 100 other countries. Sixty-one percent are enrolled as undergraduates, 30% as graduate students, and 9% in professional programs. The University offers a host of degree programs, 69 bachelors, 111 masters, 75 doctoral and 4 professional. The Princeton Review magazine has named the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the "Most Entrepreneurial Campus" in the nation.
For more information:
919-962-2211, www.unc.edu
Sports & Recreation
Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro Parks and Recreation Departments manage a total of 25 park facilities covering nearly 500 acres and provide a multitude of youth and adult programs. Area recreation facilities include tennis and basketball courts, bicycle paths, nature trails, skate parks and more.
| Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation | 919-968-2784 |
|---|---|
| Carrboro Recreation & Parks | 919-968-7703 |
| Orange County Recreation & Parks | 919-245-2660 |
Climate (Mild 4-Seasons)
| High | Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Average | 70 | 48 |
| Summer | 89 | 68 |
| Winter | 49 | 27 |
- Average annual rainfall
- 49 inches
- Average annual snowfall
- 7.5 inches
Population (2003)
| City | Population |
|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | 51,485 |
| Carrboro | 17,585 |
| Orange County | 120,881 |
| Durham/Orange/Chatham MSA | 447,633 |
- Median Age (Orange Co.)
- 31.4
Cost of Living
100 National Average (Nov. 2004)
- Comparison Index
- 111.8
Housing Costs (2003)
- Average home cost
- $331,794
- Average monthly rent (2BR unfurnished apt, 1.5–2BA)
- $864
Taxes (2004)
| Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Property Tax – Chapel Hill | $.58/$100 valuation |
| Property Tax – Carrboro | $.71/$100 valuation |
| Property Tax – county | $.88/$100 valuation |
| Property Tax – school district tax | $.20/$100 valuation |
| Local State Sales Tax | 7.0% |
| State Income Tax | 6.0–8.25% |
Tax Information
| Type | Phone |
|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | 919-968-2759 |
| Carrboro | 919-942-8541 |
| Orange County | 919-967-9251 |
| State Tax | 919-733-4692 |
Income (2004)
- Per Capita Annual Income
- $33,375
- Median Family Income
- $69,800
Unemployment Rate (Aug. 2004)
- Orange County
- 2.7%
10 Largest Employers
| Business | Employees |
|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 16,600 |
| UNC Hospitals | 6,819 |
| Chapel Hill / Carrboro City Schools | 2,618 |
| Blue Cross / Blue Shield of NC | 1,373 |
| Orange County Board of Education | 1,253 |
| Town of Chapel Hill | 769 |
| Orange County Government | 740 |
| General Electric | 525 |
| Harris Teeter | 522 |
| Eurosport | 434 |