Zip code 27516: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27516?

27516 is assigned to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27516 in?

27516 is mostly in Orange County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 27516?

About 47,358 people live in 27516, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27516?

The median household income in 27516 is $106,353.

Q: What zip codes are near 27516?

The closest zip codes to 27516 are 27510, 27515, 27599, 27514, 27517.

Residential delivery areaOrange CountyEastern Time

Population

47,358

Median household income

$106K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$567K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,564/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

93 sq mi

507 people/sq mi

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

About 27516

27516 is a suburban zip code in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Orange County), covering 93 sq mi of land. About 47,358 people live here, or 507 per square mile. The median resident is 36.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $106,353 a year, 32% above the national median of $80,734. 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $567,200, or 5.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 71% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,564 a month.

73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 24.1 minutes each way, and 32% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare, education and management.

How 27516 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Bachelor's degree or higher72.8%
96th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%16th of 799 in NC
Work from home31.9%
96th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%29th of 799 in NC
Broadband access97.3%
94th
StrengthU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%40th of 788 in NC
Healthcare workers14.1%
93rd
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%101st of 798 in NC
Government workers22.9%
91st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%120th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.508
91st
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.47785th of 781 in NC
Tech workers6.7%
89th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%52nd of 798 in NC
Rent-burdened renters61.5%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%110th of 760 in NC
Per capita income$58,731
83rd
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,38566th of 799 in NC
Median home value$567,200
79th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,90030th of 757 in NC
Self-employed workers12.3%
79th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%242nd of 798 in NC
Unemployment rate6.8%
78th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%163rd of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$61,582
78th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,27957th of 788 in NC
Population47,358
77th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,40445th of 802 in NC
Median household income$106,353
77th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,38859th of 748 in NC
Poverty rate15.8%
72nd
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%273rd of 788 in NC
Median gross rent$1,564
59th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,22873rd of 688 in NC
Foreign-born residents12.9%
59th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%83rd of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy7.6%
57th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%608th of 789 in NC
Homeownership rate70.7%
55th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%505th of 788 in NC
Diversity index51.6
55th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4314th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1821.7%
46th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%320th of 802 in NC
Average commute24.1 min
37th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min499th of 771 in NC
Residents 65 and older14.9%
37th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%597th of 802 in NC
Median age36.9
34th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1624th of 802 in NC
Population density507/sq mi
33rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi208th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate4.9%
32nd
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%680th of 797 in NC
Veterans4.1%
27th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%702nd of 801 in NC

Measure	27516	Orange	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	72.8%	61.8%	35.7%	35.7%	96th	16th of 799
Work from home	31.9%	26.8%	16.3%	15.1%	96th	29th of 799
Broadband accessStrength	97.3%	94%	90.1%	91%	94th	40th of 788
Healthcare workers	14.1%	12.7%	9.5%	9.7%	93rd	101st of 798
Government workers	22.9%	22.9%	13.8%	14.5%	91st	120th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.508	0.514	0.477	0.483	91st	85th of 781
Tech workers	6.7%	5.5%	3.9%	3.8%	89th	52nd of 798
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	61.5%	58.1%	48.9%	51.1%	86th	110th of 760
Per capita incomeStrength	$58,731	$52,900	$41,385	$44,673	83rd	66th of 799
Median home value	$567,200	$459,500	$288,900	$332,700	79th	30th of 757
Self-employed workers	12.3%	11.8%	9.8%	10%	79th	242nd of 798
Unemployment rate	6.8%	3.6%	4.7%	5.2%	78th	163rd of 799
Median earnings per worker	$61,582	$49,967	$46,279	$49,666	78th	57th of 788
Population	47,358	149,678	10,730,404	334,922,499	77th	45th of 802
Median household income	$106,353	$90,089	$72,388	$80,734	77th	59th of 748
Poverty rate	15.8%	12.5%	13%	12.5%	72nd	273rd of 788
Median gross rent	$1,564	$1,496	$1,228	$1,413	59th	73rd of 688
Foreign-born residents	12.9%	12.9%	9.1%	14.1%	59th	83rd of 802
Housing vacancy	7.6%	8.8%	12.5%	10.1%	57th	608th of 789
Homeownership rate	70.7%	63.8%	66.6%	65.2%	55th	505th of 788
Diversity index	51.6	53.2	58.4	61.4	55th	314th of 802
Residents under 18	21.7%	18.9%	21.8%	22%	46th	320th of 802
Average commute	24.1 min	23.6 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	37th	499th of 771
Residents 65 and older	14.9%	16.1%	17.2%	17.2%	37th	597th of 802
Median age	36.9	36.1	39.1	38.9	34th	624th of 802
Population density	507/sq mi	377/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	33rd	208th of 802
Uninsured rate	4.9%	6.5%	9.9%	8.4%	32nd	680th of 797
Veterans	4.1%	4.7%	7.4%	6.2%	27th	702nd of 801

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

17%

5–17

17%

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

15%

45–54

11%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

36.9

Under 18

21.7%

65 and over

14.9%

Race and ethnicity

White68%
Black8%
Hispanic8%
Asian10%
Native American0.4%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0.8%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

51.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

12.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

34.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

81%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.6%

Households

Households: 17,503
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 64.3%
Married couples: 53.1%
Living alone: 23.6%
Veterans (of adults): 4.1%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

11%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

27%

Median household income

27516

$106,353

Orange Co.

$90,089

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$58,731

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

38.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.508

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27516

$567,200

Orange Co.

$459,500

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27516

$1,564

Orange Co.

$1,496

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 18,951
Owner-occupied: 70.7%
Vacant: 7.6%
Median year built: 1996
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 61.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 37.2%
Home value to income: 5.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

55%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

32%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

32%

20–29

27%

30–44

22%

45–59

60+

Average commute

24.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

14%

Education

13%

Management

12%

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Sales

Food service

Office and admin

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Police and fire

Production

0.9%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Education

23%

Health care and social assistance

16%

Professional and technical services

15%

Restaurants and hotels

Retail

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Other services

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Information

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$61,582

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

22.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

14.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27516	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$82,497	$74,888
Service	$16,381	$26,804
Sales and office	$48,016	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$49,191	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,765	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

Some college

10%

Associate's

Bachelor's

30%

Graduate

43%

High school graduate or higher: 95.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 72.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 42.6%
Households with broadband: 97.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 88.5%
No internet access: 1.6%
Without health insurance: 4.9%
Limited-English households: 2.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Chapel Hill
State: North Carolina
County: Orange County
Center point: 35.9062° N, 79.1548° W
Land area: 93 sq mi
Water area: 0.8 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

27516 spans 2 counties

Orange County84% of land
Chatham County17% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Chapel Hill6% of zip
Carrboro4% of zip
Briar Chapel (unincorporated)2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 27516

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27510	Carrboro, NC	4.1 mi	13,868	$61,837	$449,700
27515	Chapel Hill, NC · PO box	5.6 mi	—	—	—
27599	Chapel Hill, NC	5.8 mi	0	—	—
27514	Chapel Hill, NC	7.1 mi	32,951	$92,875	$663,900
27517	Chapel Hill, NC	8.2 mi	29,564	$128,683	$608,100
27228	Bynum, NC · PO box	8.6 mi	—	—	—
27340	Saxapahaw, NC	9.1 mi	48	—	—
27312	Pittsboro, NC	11 mi	23,341	$103,104	$467,900
27243	Efland, NC	11 mi	5,677	$84,348	$298,600
27253	Graham, NC	12 mi	33,114	$62,774	$235,800
27707	Durham, NC	12 mi	51,274	$74,406	$407,800
27713	Durham, NC	12 mi	59,197	$100,676	$418,400

Zip codes like 27516 elsewhere

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

Questions about 27516

What city is zip code 27516?

27516 is assigned to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27516 in?

27516 is mostly in Orange County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 27516?

About 47,358 people live in 27516, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27516 in?

27516 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27516?

The median household income in 27516 is $106,353.

What zip codes are near 27516?

The closest zip codes to 27516 are 27510, 27515, 27599, 27514, 27517.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27516, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.