Poverty and living standards in Chapel Hill, North Carolina: official figures
18.6% of residents of Chapel Hill (9,411 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 154th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; North Carolina: 13.0%).
How many children live in poverty in Chapel Hill?
6.9% of children under 18 in Chapel Hill lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (624 children), 125th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; North Carolina: 17.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Chapel Hill?
By age, the poverty rate in Chapel Hill was 6.4% for children under 6 and 8.4% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Chapel Hill live in deep poverty?
6,932 people in Chapel Hill, 13.7% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 37th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Chapel Hill are cost-burdened?
60.8% of renting households in Chapel Hill spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (6,393 households), 102nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; North Carolina: 48.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Chapel Hill spend half their income on rent?
35.3% of renting households in Chapel Hill spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 59th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Chapel Hill are food insecure?
An estimated 12.1% of adults in Chapel Hill experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 127th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 9.4% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Chapel Hill compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 154 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 151 | San Bernardino | 18.6% |
| 152 | Bellingham | 18.6% |
| 153 | Lynchburg | 18.6% |
| 154 | Chapel Hill | 18.6% |
| 155 | Homestead | 18.4% |
| 156 | Springfield | 18.4% |
| 157 | Mobile | 18.4% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 699 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 696 | Davis | 7.0% |
| 697 | Warwick | 7.0% |
| 698 | Lenexa | 7.0% |
| 699 | Chapel Hill | 6.9% |
| 700 | Yorba Linda | 6.9% |
| 701 | Union City | 6.9% |
| 702 | Des Plaines | 6.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 37 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Albany | 13.9% |
| 35 | Kalamazoo | 13.9% |
| 36 | Port Arthur | 13.7% |
| 37 | Chapel Hill | 13.7% |
| 38 | Cincinnati | 13.7% |
| 39 | Reading | 13.6% |
| 40 | Terre Haute | 13.6% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 102 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Allentown | 60.9% |
| 100 | Mesquite | 60.9% |
| 101 | Bonita Springs | 60.9% |
| 102 | Chapel Hill | 60.8% |
| 103 | La Mesa | 60.8% |
| 104 | Vacaville | 60.7% |
| 105 | Lynwood | 60.7% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Chapel Hill ranks 465 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 462 | Schaumburg | 12.1% |
| 463 | Blaine | 12.1% |
| 464 | Camarillo | 12.1% |
| 465 | Chapel Hill | 12.1% |
| 466 | Arcadia | 12.1% |
| 467 | Huntington Beach | 12.0% |
| 468 | Appleton | 12.0% |
More on Chapel Hill: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.