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Living in
Carrboro.
About
Life in Carrboro
If you're considering a move here, understand that you're choosing a progressive college town with real progressive values—not just the reputation. Carrboro backed those ideals early and often, from electing an openly gay mayor back in 1995 to adopting resolutions against the Iraq War when few Southern towns would. That culture matters in day-to-day life: the town genuinely feels politically engaged and socially conscious, which attracts a diverse mix of people—a sizable Latino community that arrived in the 1990s brought authentic food culture and businesses that transformed the local character, and you'll find strong Asian communities and families here too.
Carrboro at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Foreign-Born
15.9%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Carrboro: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Carrboro, the largest foreign-born group is from India (9.9%), and 9.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
10.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.6%
of households
Married Couples
40.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Carrboro
In Carrboro, rent runs 20% above the NC average, and home values are 87% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,888
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $412,896 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below NC average
Unemployment in Carrboro and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Orange County, which includes Carrboro, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Carrboro: Orange County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orange County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Carrboro Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area
Commute23.1 min avg
How Carrboro residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Carrboro, most residents drive alone to work (50%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 115 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 21% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Carrboro runs 21% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
261.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,930.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Carrboro Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Carrboro, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30.8M |
| 2024 | 6 | Flash Flood | $44,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $55,000 |
| 2022 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $159,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2018 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $27.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Durham County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 14 miles from Carrboro) is typically good — 262 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
262
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Durham County, NC (14 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Carrboro has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
53°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.9"
Annual Snowfall
2.8"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
77
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 29°F | 3.95" |
| Feb | 54°F | 31°F | 3.27" |
| Mar | 62°F | 38°F | 4.39" |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 3.71" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 3.78" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.08" |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.82" |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 4.30" |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 5.42" |
| Oct | 72°F | 49°F | 3.77" |
| Nov | 62°F | 38°F | 3.50" |
| Dec | 54°F | 32°F | 3.87" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Carrboro
Uninsured
6.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Carrboro's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Unc Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Chapel Hill
Duke University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.1 mi away · Durham
Durham VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Durham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Carrboro
Carrboro's student/teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 69.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Carrboro (within 15 miles)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 20,752 students · in-state tuition $9,095 · 92% graduate · median earnings $81,094 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,442 students · in-state tuition $72,795 · 97% graduate · median earnings $113,937 (10 yrs after entry)
North Carolina Central University
11.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,081 students · in-state tuition $6,733 · 51% graduate · median earnings $46,956 (10 yrs after entry)
Durham Technical Community College
12 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,890 students · in-state tuition $1,986 · 25% graduate · median earnings $40,827 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Carrboro
Carrboro has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
45 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Carrboro
Carrboro Cybrary
100 N Greensboro St, Carrboro
Cities Near Carrboro
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Carrboro?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Carrboro FAQ
Is Carrboro, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Carrboro's median rent is $1,470/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $85,743/year. Median home value is $539,400.
Is Carrboro, North Carolina safe?⌄
Carrboro's violent crime rate was 262 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1931 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Carrboro, North Carolina?⌄
Orange County, which includes Carrboro, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Carrboro, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Carrboro is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,470/month and median household income is $85,743/year. The median home value is $539,400. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Carrboro, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Carrboro is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from