Zip code 27278: Hillsborough, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27278?

27278 is assigned to Hillsborough, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27278 in?

27278 is mostly in Orange County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 27278?

About 27,925 people live in 27278, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27278?

The median household income in 27278 is $105,887.

Q: What zip codes are near 27278?

The closest zip codes to 27278 are 27243, 27705, 27514, 27231, 27708.

Residential delivery areaOrange CountyEastern Time

Population

27,925

Median household income

$106K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$414K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,297/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

44.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

104 sq mi

269 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 27278

27278 is a small-town zip code in Hillsborough, North Carolina (Orange County), covering 104 sq mi of land. About 27,925 people live here, or 269 per square mile. The median resident is 44.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $105,887 a year, 31% above the national median of $80,734. 7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $414,100, or 3.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,297 a month.

56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.8 minutes each way, and 26% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, healthcare and sales.

How 27278 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Healthcare workers14.5%
94th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%91st of 798 in NC
Work from home25.6%
89th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%66th of 799 in NC
Self-employed workers14.6%
89th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%154th of 798 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher55.7%
85th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%67th of 799 in NC
Tech workers5.9%
85th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%70th of 798 in NC
Broadband access95.9%
84th
StrengthU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%87th of 788 in NC
Government workers19.8%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%184th of 798 in NC
Median age44.3
83rd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1316th of 802 in NC
Per capita income$55,724
80th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,38581st of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$62,215
79th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,27954th of 788 in NC
Median household income$105,887
76th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,38861st of 748 in NC
Homeownership rate77.6%
73rd
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%332nd of 788 in NC
Veterans7.6%
73rd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%332nd of 801 in NC
Residents 65 and older19.5%
71st
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%404th of 802 in NC
Median home value$414,100
64th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,90099th of 757 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.443
57th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477338th of 781 in NC
Average commute26.8 min
55th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min347th of 771 in NC
Housing vacancy6.7%
50th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%647th of 789 in NC
Rent-burdened renters50.6%
49th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%290th of 760 in NC
Population27,925
45th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404142nd of 802 in NC
Diversity index45.7
45th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4399th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate6.3%
45th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%608th of 797 in NC
Foreign-born residents8.6%
45th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%174th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$1,297
43rd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228145th of 688 in NC
Residents under 1821%
40th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%361st of 802 in NC
Poverty rate7%
25th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%635th of 788 in NC
Population density269/sq mi
24th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi295th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate2.9%
15th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%557th of 799 in NC

Measure	27278	Orange	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Healthcare workers	14.5%	12.7%	9.5%	9.7%	94th	91st of 798
Work from home	25.6%	26.8%	16.3%	15.1%	89th	66th of 799
Self-employed workers	14.6%	11.8%	9.8%	10%	89th	154th of 798
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	55.7%	61.8%	35.7%	35.7%	85th	67th of 799
Tech workers	5.9%	5.5%	3.9%	3.8%	85th	70th of 798
Broadband accessStrength	95.9%	94%	90.1%	91%	84th	87th of 788
Government workers	19.8%	22.9%	13.8%	14.5%	84th	184th of 798
Median age	44.3	36.1	39.1	38.9	83rd	316th of 802
Per capita incomeStrength	$55,724	$52,900	$41,385	$44,673	80th	81st of 799
Median earnings per worker	$62,215	$49,967	$46,279	$49,666	79th	54th of 788
Median household income	$105,887	$90,089	$72,388	$80,734	76th	61st of 748
Homeownership rate	77.6%	63.8%	66.6%	65.2%	73rd	332nd of 788
Veterans	7.6%	4.7%	7.4%	6.2%	73rd	332nd of 801
Residents 65 and older	19.5%	16.1%	17.2%	17.2%	71st	404th of 802
Median home value	$414,100	$459,500	$288,900	$332,700	64th	99th of 757
Income inequality (Gini)	0.443	0.514	0.477	0.483	57th	338th of 781
Average commute	26.8 min	23.6 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	55th	347th of 771
Housing vacancy	6.7%	8.8%	12.5%	10.1%	50th	647th of 789
Rent-burdened renters	50.6%	58.1%	48.9%	51.1%	49th	290th of 760
Population	27,925	149,678	10,730,404	334,922,499	45th	142nd of 802
Diversity index	45.7	53.2	58.4	61.4	45th	399th of 802
Uninsured rate	6.3%	6.5%	9.9%	8.4%	45th	608th of 797
Foreign-born residents	8.6%	12.9%	9.1%	14.1%	45th	174th of 802
Median gross rent	$1,297	$1,496	$1,228	$1,413	43rd	145th of 688
Residents under 18	21%	18.9%	21.8%	22%	40th	361st of 802
Poverty rate	7%	12.5%	13%	12.5%	25th	635th of 788
Population density	269/sq mi	377/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	24th	295th of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	2.9%	3.6%	4.7%	5.2%	15th	557th of 799

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

15%

5–17

18–24

25–34

16%

35–44

13%

45–54

17%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

44.3

Under 18

21%

65 and over

19.5%

Race and ethnicity

White72%
Black9%
Hispanic11%
Asian3%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.3%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

45.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

45.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

88%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 11,533
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 65.9%
Married couples: 55.5%
Living alone: 29.4%
Veterans (of adults): 7.6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

13%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

21%

Median household income

27278

$105,887

Orange Co.

$90,089

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$55,724

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

32.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.443

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27278

$414,100

Orange Co.

$459,500

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27278

$1,297

Orange Co.

$1,496

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

83%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 12,362
Owner-occupied: 77.6%
Vacant: 6.7%
Median year built: 1996
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 50.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 26.1%
Home value to income: 3.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

61%

Carpooled

Transit

0.6%

Walked

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

26%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

24%

20–29

28%

30–44

23%

45–59

60+

Average commute

26.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

14%

Healthcare

14%

Sales

10%

Education

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Production

Food service

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

19%

Education

16%

Professional and technical services

11%

Retail

10%

Manufacturing

Construction

Public administration

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Information

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$62,215

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

13.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27278	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$88,862	$74,888
Service	$27,500	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,688	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,587	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,855	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

15%

Some college

11%

Associate's

Bachelor's

29%

Graduate

27%

High school graduate or higher: 91.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 55.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 27%
Households with broadband: 95.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 81.7%
No internet access: 2.6%
Without health insurance: 6.3%
Limited-English households: 1.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Hillsborough
State: North Carolina
County: Orange County
Center point: 36.0902° N, 79.0869° W
Land area: 104 sq mi
Water area: 1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

27278 spans 2 counties

Orange County96% of land
Durham County4% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Hillsborough6% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 27278

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27243	Efland, NC	6.7 mi	5,677	$84,348	$298,600
27705	Durham, NC	7.4 mi	49,923	$73,066	$455,000
27514	Chapel Hill, NC	8.8 mi	32,951	$92,875	$663,900
27231	Cedar Grove, NC	8.8 mi	2,331	$64,471	$248,900
27708	Durham, NC	10 mi	3,253	—	—
27712	Durham, NC	10 mi	24,299	$91,331	$372,600
27706	Durham, NC · PO box	10 mi	—	—	—
27302	Mebane, NC	10 mi	35,418	$79,819	$312,400
27707	Durham, NC	12 mi	51,274	$74,406	$407,800
27541	Hurdle Mills, NC	12 mi	3,399	$75,305	$237,000
27503	Bahama, NC	12 mi	5,374	$114,425	$406,700
27701	Durham, NC	12 mi	24,793	$69,740	$508,900

Zip codes like 27278 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 27278

What city is zip code 27278?

27278 is assigned to Hillsborough, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27278 in?

27278 is mostly in Orange County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 27278?

About 27,925 people live in 27278, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27278 in?

27278 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27278?

The median household income in 27278 is $105,887.

What zip codes are near 27278?

The closest zip codes to 27278 are 27243, 27705, 27514, 27231, 27708.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27278, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.