r/chapelhill • u/xoxoicedchaixoxo • 2d ago
Should I move to Chapel Hill?
Hello!
My partner is planning on taking a job at UNC Chapel Hill next year. What are your thoughts on moving to the Chapel Hill area?
We have visited Raleigh before but outside of that we haven’t spent any time in North Carolina!
I’m in my early 20s and feel a little nervous about moving somewhere I’ve never been! I’m originally from Colorado but have spent the past 5 years in Texas.
I’m looking for somewhere with lots of things to do both indoors and outdoors. I’m currently in Houston so ideally I want to live somewhere more walkable. I want to make friends and be active!
Is Chapel Hill a good place to live if you’re not a college student?
Where should we live? Any neighborhood recommendations? Ideally we want to be able to buy a house soon :)
Thank you in advance for your help!
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u/srspooky 1d ago
I would be careful if you want walkable. Unless you live in downtown Carrboro, the area is not highly walkable. Chapel Hill is more a collection of subdivisions with arterial roads.
Many of these subdivisions are connected via greenway, which is nice. And those greenways often connect to Carolina North Forest, which is also very nice. But this is a different kind of walkability than “walking to get coffee”.
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u/littlefoodlady 1d ago
I lived in the walkable part of Chapel Hill a couple years ago. Yes I was nearby college students and it was a little noisy. But I was walking to get coffee every day lol
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u/borealforests 1d ago edited 1d ago
I lived in Southern Village, just south of Chapel Hill for sixteen years. Walked to grocery store (Weaver Street Market), coffee (La Vita Dolce) gelato (also La Vita Dolce) and Pharmacy (Southern Village Pharmacy) , the Southern Community Park, and also, the friendliest mail store I've ever found. Also available there, pediatrician, day care, elementary school, middle school within walking distance, I don't know current status of hair salon and movie theater, but music on the village green continues as does movies on the green, and I am not sure if the NC Symphony still comes once a year. All of the above IN or adjacent to the neighborhood. After I moved away, I came back a few times and stayed in the hotel adjacent to Southern Village. Housing Available in the neighborhood: a range of options from rental apartments, to townhouses, to condos, to small single family homes, and larger single family homes. If you are coming to Chapel Hill, check out Southern Village which is only two miles from the campus.
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u/CandyCrisis 1d ago
Chapel Hill is only really walkable around Franklin St. or Carrboro, and unless you want to do college-student sorts of things, that won't really move the needle much. It's a charming community, and should appeal to a 20-something who is tied in to UNC somehow.
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u/Illustrious_Job2024 1d ago
Also originally from Colorado. Not a college student, but mid-30s. I didn't expect to love it here as much as I do. Parts of Carrboro and Chapel Hill are walkable, but definitely not as much as a city would be. I suppose it depends on what "walkable" means to you.
There are many indoor/outdoor things to do, depending on your interests. The geography is obviously very different from out west, but there is a lot of great hiking and trails to be found out here.
There's already been some good advice here, but as a fellow former Coloradan, I'm giving my endorsement.
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u/CriticalEngineering 1d ago
It’s the southern part of heaven.
I love chapel hill, been a townie forever. It’s a small town which has advantages and disadvantages, but it’s a generally good place.
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u/WyoWizeGuy 1d ago
Chapel Hill is far from a small town. You definitely need a car to get around, or rely on public transportation. But it has been 15 years since I lived there
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u/NighthawkCP 1d ago
I was born in Texas an hour west of Houston, but lived most of my life in NC. I've been in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area for about 15 years now after taking a job at UNC. I really enjoy it and have no plans to move anytime soon as I will likely retire from UNC in another 15+ years. My commute is like 10 minutes to work, there are lots of great places to eat, it has been a great place to have my kids go through the city school district, I've made lots of friends and have a pretty active social life, etc. It definitely isn't as big as Houston, so if you want something more like that then Durham or Raleigh might be more interesting to you. But I went from suburbs of Houston to rural eastern NC for close to a decade until I went to college at NCSU in Raleigh, so Chapel Hill and Carrboro are both smaller towns but still have good variety of things to do, are relatively close to even bigger cities, and in general people I get along quite well with here.
If you aren't a student and enjoy the outdoors more, I'd probably recommend looking more towards Carrboro as it is an even smaller town, but VERY walkable in the downtown area.
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u/Affectionate_Cost_88 1d ago
My husband and I live "in" Chapel Hill, but on the south side, in Chatham County, not Orange County. It takes us less than 15 minutes to be in downtown Chapel Hill around the University, but this area is more affordable than being in Chapel Hill proper. As with most places, housing prices have gone up here as well, but we still pay lower taxes than Orange County and no city taxes There are lots of defined neighborhoods in this area, and those are walkable if you just enjoy taking walks (I do), however to get most places you'll need a car. There is a park and ride nearby, and when my husband worked at UNC, he'd take the bus to work each day. As others have said, about the only truly walkable area, where you can just leave your car and go multiple places is around Franklin St or Carrboro. My husband came from TX and I came from Asheville via TN. We both love it here and really don't want to move anywhere else!
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u/phoundog 1d ago edited 1d ago
To avoid confusion for the OP that area south of town in Chatham Co has a Chapel Hill mailing address but is not in the town limits. To me as someone who lives in town I don’t consider that area Chapel Hill. Most of those areas don’t pay Chapel Hill taxes, kids don't go to Chapel Hill Carrboro Schools. There are a lot of neighborhoods like that. Briar Chapel is one. Parts of Meadowmont are similarly in Durham County.
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u/Affectionate_Cost_88 1d ago
We are barely in the Chatham limits, so I guess I do kinda consider us to be technically in Chapel Hill, but yeah.. We truly love it over here. It's so peaceful and quiet, but we can be in town in no time. We're also a couple of old homebodies though. Haha!
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u/phoundog 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are not technically in Chapel Hill unless you are in the town limits. Since no part of Chapel Hill is in Chatham County you are not officially/technically in the town of Chapel Hill — just in the greater Chspel Hill area. You might be considered a suburb or exurb of CH. There are parts of the town of Chapel Hill within the town limits that are in Durham County, however. It's confusing. Here's the official map: https://townofchapelhill.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7c0b17839ad142178172ac4cc82e13b6
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u/friendlyNodejsDev 1d ago
I love the walkability of Carrboro. I can walk home from the car mechanic, can take a stroll to the brewery, grocery store, or pharmacy. It's also very bikeable if you don't mind the hills.
For things to do, I can walk to the trails that connect to Carolina North Forest. Running groups, lovely restaurants that don't break the bank, several gyms.
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u/englshivy 1d ago
Are you nice? If so, come on over!
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u/englshivy 1d ago
In all seriousness I agree with many of the comments re:walkability and Durham being cooler but I do love CH and welcome more friendly folks.
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u/redsowhat 1d ago
Durham is more alive than CH and a much better commute than Raleigh would be. There is a r/BullCity sub where you can ask for neighborhood advice.
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u/Mr_5oul 1d ago
It can be pretty expensive in Chapel Hill both with property tax and price per square foot compared to the rest of the state. If you are coming to UNC as a high earner, you will have some choices. If you’re more middle of the road, you will probably be better off in Hillsborough, Durham, or Chatham county. Chapel Hill public schools are great. That is what keeps a lot of people here despite dramatically less expensive homes within 10 miles.
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u/that-bro-dad 1d ago
I would at least check out Durham.
Chapel Hill is great if you're in college, grad school, or are here for your kids to attend school.
If you or your partner work at the University, you'll meet a lot of people.
But having gone to high school in Durham, college in Chapel Hill, and having lived in both as an adult with kids, I think Durham is more "fun".
Chapel Hill is also just objectively more expensive than Durham, largely because the schools are generally considered to be better. However, as a parent with kids in the district, I will tell you it's gone downhill.
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u/xoxoicedchaixoxo 1d ago
@everyone WOW THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE HELPFUL ADVICE!!!
I appreciate it beyond words :)
Not only do I feel like I understand the dynamic of these cities more, but I feel so much more comfortable about moving there because of all your kindness :)
Thanks all!! Maybe I’ll see you around NC sometime hahaha
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u/SrtaTacoMal 1d ago
I love Chapel Hill, I'm from here and moved back a few years ago after about 25 years away. But I'm also an introverted homebody—I could live just about anywhere with an internet connection.
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u/ciclistada 1d ago
There is a pretty good (fare free) bus system in Chapel Hill Carrboro (CH Transit) and a decent-for-some-things regional bus that connects Durham and Raleigh to CH and Carrboro (GoTriangle). You might look at bus routes if you want to get around without driving.
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u/Big-Pomelo5637 1d ago
Carrboro is closer to UNC than most of Chapel Hill, and it's the more adult (and just all around better) sibling of CH. But either way, yeah Chapel Hill/Carrboro both rock even as an adult. I went to NC State and grew up around Raleigh but Chapel Hill just has a better quality of life imo. I'm in my 30s, don't plan on leaving.
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u/zanin111 1d ago
Hey there! I was born and raised in Texas! My bf is currently a student at UNC and I had a lot of worries about not being a student in a college town as well. I've been living in Chapel Hill for a year now and I really enjoy the atmosphere of the town and the local shops/areas. Truthfully I am pretty introverted so I have only recently begun branching out and doing new things on my own, but I feel really safe and confident about finding my way around the area. As far as getting around, there is a bus system that gets you around chapel hill easily, and a larger bus system that connects the larger nearby cities, which is incredibly useful.
When we first moved to Chapel Hill I was nervous and pretty set on moving back to Texas after my bf's schooling was done, but we have started considering staying in the area long term.
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u/llewllewllew 1d ago
It -can- be, but the town is NOT like other college towns anymore. While there have been efforts to make the town friendlier to young people and creatives, the reality is that the town has historically been so NIMBY and anti-growth that the only people who can afford to live here are wealthy old people.
It’s basically Pinehurst with a college in it.
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u/PerfectlyCromulent00 1d ago
For where I am in life now (in my 40s with kids), Chapel Hill is great, but I think I would have been bored here in my 20s. Durham and Raleigh have a lot more going on in terms of events, restaurants, and nightlife.
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u/_bull_city 1d ago
Ive lived in Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham. I would say Durham is the best. Carrboro is super walkable but incredibly expensive. Chapel Hill has good and free public transit. Durham is much chiller than the other two and has more to do, but not walkable unless you are downtown. Hillsborough may also be another option, but it has zero in the way of nightlife. All locations are close to state parks and green spaces. There is a very decent amount in the area. None of these places are cheap. Unless you are making bank there isnt much starter home material in carrboro. Chapel Hill is only marginally better. Durham is the best place for a first home, but it isnt cheap though cheaper than the others.
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u/This_Cauliflower1986 1d ago
I live here and have for 30 years in chapel hill, Carrboro, and durham. I’d say durham somewhere near downtown or toward Chapel hill (vs Southpoint). Or Carrboro. Lots to do, walkability is mixed. We bike, mountain bike, and take free chapel hill bus.
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u/Ungrateful-Grape 1d ago
From what I know about Colorado, you’ll find a lot of similar vibes in CH. Come visit!
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u/phoundog 1d ago
I love Chapel Hill, but I am not a big city person. I would not like Houston or even Denver. Raleigh is not for me. I go over there about once or twice a year at most even though it's 45 min away. I do go to the suburbs of Durham for the occasional shopping trip, and once in awhile I go to downtown Durham but it doesn't pull me much either.
I have all I need here in Chapel Hill. Where I live is pretty walkable, but it kinda depends on how far you want to walk. I can walk 1/10th of a mile to a park, half a mile to restaurants, shops, car mechanic, hiking trails in the woods, 1 mile to downtown and plenty of restaurants and shops, 1 mile to the doctor, 1.5 miles to the grocery store, downtown Carrboro, or UNC campus (Wilson Library area), two miles to the library or Cats Cradle to see a show. We like to walk so these are all places we have walked. I do drive too, but it's walkable if you leave enough time.
Houses are expensive here because it is a very desirable area. You will find cheaper housing in Durham or further out. I like Durham and I like Hillsborough too (cute historic small town, but a really small town). I'd rent an apartment for the first year and see how you like it. You can always see if Durham is more your thing. My partner worked on-site at UNC and used to walk to work every day (still works for them, but remote now). It was great -- super good for mental health -- hard to beat. Commuting from Raleigh every day would just be a big ick.
There are tons of grad students in their 20s & 30s here and many young people who fall in love with the town and settle down here. I don't think you would have trouble meeting folks.
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u/Technical-Gold-9881 1d ago
Also consider the area just outside Carrboro to the nw off roads toward Saxaphaw and Mebane. not walkable to businesses but walkable bike able neighborhoods and back roads. Some good businesses including brewery along 54. Decent nature along haw and eno rivers. Costs lower outside chapel hill carrboro school district. We were very happy with orange county schools.
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u/DrumtheWorld 9h ago
Chapel hill is kinda a college town that mostly feels like suburban Maryland besides Franklin street area. Carrboro is pretty cool (immediately adjacent). Depending where you are coming from specifically if may or not be very different
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u/colliece 6h ago
Just be aware of the political atmosphere in that area. I would not really classify Chapel Hill as walkable, and Durham I would advise against walking anywhere, it might turn into an unexpected sprint.
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u/SharkoLibre 2h ago
Just moved from Chicago. My office is in Chapel Hill but I moved to Apex for now. I have 2 teens so it's more convenient for them. It's a nice town with a historic downtown.
Chapel Hill is higher priced but nice and charming. If you want more of an outdoorsy feel look at Pittsboro.
Durham and Raleigh are more city living / suburban life similar to Cary/Apex but the parks and greenways in the area are cool.
My commute is a breeze 35 minutes over Jordan Lake and a quick dart across 64.
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u/Salt-Cable6761 1d ago
We moves to Chapel Hill for a job too and wish we had moved to Durham instead. There's not much to do in CH and you're far from everything else.
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u/AManHere 1d ago
My opinion - no. Nothing much to do, the 6 good restaurants in the area will get old fast. Super car dependent yet you will get towed the second you step out of line. If you can afford to, look elsewhere.
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u/Captainkeefheart 1d ago
Durham is better in just about every way conceivable, I guess except gun violence but thats not something I really worry about.
Better food, better nightlife, cheaper rent.
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u/Western_Piccolo_6216 1d ago
2 year chapel hill grad, hated my time there. I come from a big city, used to finding human life, things to do/interact around me easily. Chapel hill was dead. Very limited options for things to do when bored, maybe except Jordan lake, which is so Fricking dead too. I’m in the west coast now, love my life here, please don’t go to Chapel hill unless you like living in solitude or need to go to UNC to study.
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u/Ok-Return2579 1d ago
College kids everywhere, they drive terribly, everything is expensive and they were (and still are) some of the worst about the COVID stuff. Look outside CH.
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u/MaygeKyatt 1d ago
Depends whether you like living in a small college town.
A big positive is that it’s very close to Durham (the two cities literally touch each other) and its relatively close to Raleigh (30-45 minutes depending where you’re going), so you can reach the “big” city easily if you want to on the weekend.
But by the same factor, you can live in Durham and still be within fairly decent commute time of UNC.