Zip code 27517: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27517?

27517 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 27517 in?

27517 is mostly in Chatham County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 27517?

About 29,564 people live in 27517, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27517?

The median household income in 27517 is $128,683.

Q: What zip codes are near 27517?

The closest zip codes to 27517 are 27599, 27515, 27510, 27713, 27523.

Residential delivery areaChatham CountyEastern Time

Population

29,564

Median household income

$129K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$608K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,638/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

43.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

46 sq mi

643 people/sq mi

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

About 27517

27517 is a suburban zip code in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Chatham County), covering 46 sq mi of land. About 29,564 people live here, or 643 per square mile. The median resident is 43.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $128,683 a year, 59% above the national median of $80,734. 5.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $608,100, or 4.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 67% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,638 a month.

74% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.2 minutes each way, and 30% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, healthcare and education.

How 27517 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Bachelor's degree or higher74.1%
97th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%14th of 799 in NC
Per capita income$78,220
95th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,38514th of 799 in NC
Work from home29.9%
94th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%39th of 799 in NC
Healthcare workers14.3%
93rd
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%94th of 798 in NC
Residents 65 and older24.7%
91st
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%206th of 802 in NC
Median household income$128,683
89th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,38826th of 748 in NC
Government workers20.5%
86th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%159th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.492
86th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477118th of 781 in NC
Median home value$608,100
82nd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,90021st of 757 in NC
Median earnings per worker$64,229
81st
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,27950th of 788 in NC
Median age43.4
79th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1365th of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers12.4%
79th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%236th of 798 in NC
Tech workers4.8%
77th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%109th of 798 in NC
Broadband access94%
66th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%148th of 788 in NC
Foreign-born residents14.9%
64th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%53rd of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$1,638
63rd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,22853rd of 688 in NC
Diversity index50.9
53rd
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4320th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate6.8%
50th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%575th of 797 in NC
Population29,564
49th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404128th of 802 in NC
Rent-burdened renters50.6%
49th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%291st of 760 in NC
Homeownership rate67.4%
47th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%574th of 788 in NC
Housing vacancy6.2%
46th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%676th of 789 in NC
Veterans5.1%
40th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%626th of 801 in NC
Population density643/sq mi
36th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi184th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1819%
24th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%484th of 802 in NC
Average commute21.2 min
19th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min659th of 771 in NC
Poverty rate5.6%
16th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%686th of 788 in NC
Unemployment rate2.5%
10th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%596th of 799 in NC

Measure	27517	Chatham	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	74.1%	48.9%	35.7%	35.7%	97th	14th of 799
Per capita incomeStrength	$78,220	$59,363	$41,385	$44,673	95th	14th of 799
Work from home	29.9%	22.5%	16.3%	15.1%	94th	39th of 799
Healthcare workers	14.3%	10.9%	9.5%	9.7%	93rd	94th of 798
Residents 65 and older	24.7%	25.2%	17.2%	17.2%	91st	206th of 802
Median household incomeStrength	$128,683	$94,317	$72,388	$80,734	89th	26th of 748
Government workers	20.5%	17.5%	13.8%	14.5%	86th	159th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.492	0.493	0.477	0.483	86th	118th of 781
Median home value	$608,100	$446,200	$288,900	$332,700	82nd	21st of 757
Median earnings per workerStrength	$64,229	$52,047	$46,279	$49,666	81st	50th of 788
Median age	43.4	47.6	39.1	38.9	79th	365th of 802
Self-employed workers	12.4%	12.6%	9.8%	10%	79th	236th of 798
Tech workers	4.8%	4.2%	3.9%	3.8%	77th	109th of 798
Broadband access	94%	89.1%	90.1%	91%	66th	148th of 788
Foreign-born residents	14.9%	10.4%	9.1%	14.1%	64th	53rd of 802
Median gross rent	$1,638	$1,180	$1,228	$1,413	63rd	53rd of 688
Diversity index	50.9	48.7	58.4	61.4	53rd	320th of 802
Uninsured rate	6.8%	9.4%	9.9%	8.4%	50th	575th of 797
Population	29,564	80,151	10,730,404	334,922,499	49th	128th of 802
Rent-burdened renters	50.6%	48%	48.9%	51.1%	49th	291st of 760
Homeownership rate	67.4%	80.6%	66.6%	65.2%	47th	574th of 788
Housing vacancy	6.2%	8.1%	12.5%	10.1%	46th	676th of 789
Veterans	5.1%	7.2%	7.4%	6.2%	40th	626th of 801
Population density	643/sq mi	118/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	36th	184th of 802
Residents under 18	19%	19.4%	21.8%	22%	24th	484th of 802
Average commuteStrength	21.2 min	28.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	19th	659th of 771
Poverty rateStrength	5.6%	11%	13%	12.5%	16th	686th of 788
Unemployment rateStrength	2.5%	2.9%	4.7%	5.2%	10th	596th 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

14%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

12%

35–44

10%

45–54

14%

55–64

12%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

43.4

Under 18

19%

65 and over

24.7%

Race and ethnicity

White68%
Black9%
Hispanic12%
Asian6%
Native American0.4%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

50.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

14.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

32.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

82%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.3%

Households

Households: 12,608
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 61.5%
Married couples: 54.6%
Living alone: 30.5%
Veterans (of adults): 5.1%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

10%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

15%

$200k+

27%

Median household income

27517

$128,683

Chatham Co.

$94,317

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$78,220

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

5.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

42.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.492

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27517

$608,100

Chatham Co.

$446,200

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27517

$1,638

Chatham Co.

$1,180

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

69%

2–4 units

5–19 units

12%

20+ units

10%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 13,437
Owner-occupied: 67.4%
Vacant: 6.2%
Median year built: 1998
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 50.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 27.7%
Home value to income: 4.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

56%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.9%

Worked from home

30%

Other

0.9%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

42%

20–29

22%

30–44

18%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

59.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

17%

Healthcare

14%

Education

13%

Sales

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Office and admin

Arts, media and sports

Food service

Transportation and moving

Production

Police and fire

0.7%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Education

21%

Health care and social assistance

16%

Professional and technical services

14%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Admin, support and management

Retail

Construction

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Information

Wholesale

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$64,229

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

12.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27517	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$86,489	$74,888
Service	$30,150	$26,804
Sales and office	$49,956	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$39,242	$49,199
Production and transportation	$28,500	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

Some college

Associate's

Bachelor's

32%

Graduate

42%

High school graduate or higher: 94.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 74.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 42%
Households with broadband: 94%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 87.4%
No internet access: 2.7%
Without health insurance: 6.8%
Limited-English households: 2.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Chapel Hill
State: North Carolina
County: Chatham County
Center point: 35.8427° N, 79.0320° W
Land area: 46 sq mi
Water area: 4.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

27517 spans 3 counties

Chatham County58% of land
Orange County23% of land
Durham County19% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Chapel Hill13% of zip
Durham5% of zip
Governors Club (unincorporated)5% of zip

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

Zip codes near 27517

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27599	Chapel Hill, NC	4.4 mi	0	—	—
27515	Chapel Hill, NC · PO box	5.1 mi	—	—	—
27510	Carrboro, NC	5.4 mi	13,868	$61,837	$449,700
27713	Durham, NC	6.1 mi	59,197	$100,676	$418,400
27523	Apex, NC	6.4 mi	20,269	$135,625	$659,300
27228	Bynum, NC · PO box	6.8 mi	—	—	—
27516	Chapel Hill, NC	8.2 mi	47,358	$106,353	$567,200
27519	Cary, NC	8.5 mi	69,836	$165,586	$670,900
27514	Chapel Hill, NC	8.6 mi	32,951	$92,875	$663,900
27707	Durham, NC	8.9 mi	51,274	$74,406	$407,800
27709	Durham, NC	11 mi	0	—	—
27312	Pittsboro, NC	11 mi	23,341	$103,104	$467,900

Zip codes like 27517 elsewhere

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

Questions about 27517

What city is zip code 27517?

27517 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 27517 in?

27517 is mostly in Chatham County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 27517?

About 29,564 people live in 27517, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27517 in?

27517 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27517?

The median household income in 27517 is $128,683.

What zip codes are near 27517?

The closest zip codes to 27517 are 27599, 27515, 27510, 27713, 27523.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27517, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.