Real Estate Investing in Carrboro, North Carolina (27516)

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

Orange County • Population: 46,372 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27516 (Carrboro, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Carrboro, NC (27516)?

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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 $608,218
Avg Monthly Rent $2,197
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,354
% Renters 28.7%

Market Analysis: 27516 Carrboro

The 27516 ZIP covers a section of Carrboro that demands careful diligence. Prices near $608K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $2,197/mo on a $608K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 27516 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

In the broader NC picture, 27516 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 27516 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Carrboro's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 27516. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Carrboro:

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 6.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,197/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 27516

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$175,742/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $329,892 $1,510 3.3% +6.3% $329,892
2BR $392,465 $1,710 3.1% +7.6% $196,233
3BR $527,225 $2,120 2.9% +8.3% $175,742
4BR $741,846 $2,530 2.5% +8.7% $185,462
5BR $941,427 +8.4% $188,285

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$642K$570K$497K$425K$353K$281KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,490$2,281$2,073$1,864$1,655$1,447Sep 2018Aug 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27516 Compare?

Metric 27516 Carrboro Durham-Chapel Hill, NC North Carolina
Home Value $608,218 $521,831 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $2,197 $1,838 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27516? Click to expand

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

📊 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 27516 (Carrboro, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $608,218
Monthly Rent $2,197
Price-to-Rent 23.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -7.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27516

Population: 46,372

💰 Median Household Income
$94,354
This area
$94,354
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.7%
This area
28.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
72.5%
This area
72.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.1 years
This area
36.1 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.9%
Black/African American 9.0%
Other/Mixed 8.6%
Asian 8.4%
Hispanic/Latino 4.4%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.6%
This area
14.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
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 27516

A Avg School Grade
14 Schools
11.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,023 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

McDougle Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
705 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Northside Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Scroggs Elementary

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

Culbreth Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
664 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

FPG Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McDougle Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
483 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Morris Grove Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Seawell Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Smith Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
749 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Woods Charter

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,160 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chapel Hill High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,638 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
B Good

Phoenix Academy High

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
21 Students
👨‍🏫
1.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,566 Per Student
B Good

Margaret B. Pollard Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
742 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,369 Per Student
C+ Average

Virtual Academy School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
39 Students
💰
$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

6 Nearby 440 Off-Campus Students
A
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
32,234 students · 5.6 mi
D
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill
171 students · 7.1 mi
A
Duke University
17,112 students · 13.4 mi
C
Watts College of Nursing
134 students · 14.2 mi
C
Beyond Measure Barbering Institute
49 students · 14.6 mi
C+
North Carolina Central University
7,965 students · 14.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Carrboro, NC for real estate investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Carrboro, NC reflects its $608K prices and $2,197/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NC.

What is the average monthly rent in Carrboro, NC?

Carrboro, NC rentals go for roughly $2,197/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $608K acquisition costs.

Is rental property easy to operate in Carrboro, NC?

Carrboro, NC operates under NC law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Carrboro, NC?

House hacking in Carrboro, NC is a challenging. With home values around $608K and rents at $2,197/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Which investment style suits Carrboro, NC?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Carrboro, NC. The numbers - $608K homes against $2,197/mo rents - support that play.

You know 27516 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27516 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 27516 ranks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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