Real Estate Investing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (27514)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Orange County • Population: 32,612 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27514 (Chapel Hill, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 34.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Chapel Hill, NC (27514)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $651,010
Avg Monthly Rent $1,559
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $97,511
% Renters 47.9%

Market Analysis: 27514 Chapel Hill

The 27514 ZIP in Chapel Hill, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $651K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 27514 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $651K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

From a cash-flow lens, 27514 offers a low basis, the region around Chapel Hill has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 27514 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 27514, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Chapel Hill:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,559/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
61 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27514

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$140,198/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $158,365 $1,680 7.6% +4.1% $158,365
2BR $280,396 $1,910 4.9% +7.9% $140,198
3BR $560,801 $2,360 3.0% +8.7% $186,934
4BR $862,393 $2,770 2.3% +9.3% $215,598
5BR $1,140,893 +10.0% $228,179

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$687K$606K$525K$444K$363K$281KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,750$1,606$1,461$1,317$1,173$1,029Oct 2018Sep 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27514 Compare?

Metric 27514 Chapel Hill Durham-Chapel Hill, NC North Carolina
Home Value $651,010 $443,792 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.3% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,559 $1,611 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27514? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 48% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27514 (Chapel Hill, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $651,010
Monthly Rent $1,559
Price-to-Rent 34.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.9%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27514

Population: 32,612

💰 Median Household Income
$97,511
This area
$97,511
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
47.9%
This area
47.9%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
80.9%
This area
80.9%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
23.8 years
This area
23.8 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.5%
Asian 15.7%
Black/African American 8.9%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 3.7%
👶 Under 18
14.1%
This area
14.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.6%
This area
11.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 27514

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$17,164 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Estes Hills Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
349 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Phillips Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A Very Good

New Hope Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
538 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,558 Per Student
B+ Above Average

East Chapel Hill High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,411 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
B Good

UNC Hospital School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$17,566 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 1,489 Off-Campus Students
D
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill
171 students · 2.9 mi
A
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
32,234 students · 3.9 mi
A
Duke University
17,112 students · 6.4 mi
C
Watts College of Nursing
134 students · 7.1 mi
C+
North Carolina Central University
7,965 students · 8.1 mi
C+
Elevate Salon Institute
85 students · 8.3 mi
C
Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College
32 students · 8.7 mi
C
Durham Technical Community College
4,354 students · 9.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,489 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does house hacking make sense in Chapel Hill, NC?

Chapel Hill, NC offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,559/mo rent level.

Is Chapel Hill, NC a good place for real estate investing?

Our data puts Chapel Hill, NC at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $651K and rents around $1,559/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How strong is tenant demand in Chapel Hill, NC?

Tenant quality in Chapel Hill, NC ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $1,559/mo.

Are rents high in Chapel Hill, NC?

Rent in Chapel Hill, NC is around $1,559/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $651K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are landlord laws favorable in Chapel Hill, NC?

The landlord environment in Chapel Hill, NC is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 27514 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27514 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 27514 ranks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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