🇺🇸 United States ZIP Code

STANDARD

27516

Chapel Hill

ZIP Code 27516 is a standard zip code serving Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (NC), in Orange County, United States. It has an estimated population of 36,139 with a median household income of $69,349. The area falls within the America/New_York timezone.

Median Household Income vs. National Average

Location

Country: 🇺🇸 United States
State / Province: North Carolina (NC)
County: Orange
City: Chapel Hill
Timezone: America/New_York

Coordinates

Latitude: 35.916200
Longitude: -79.099900

Geographic Details

Land Area: 92.89 mi²
Water Area: 0.85 mi²
Population Density: 389.0 people per mi² (70th percentile)
Bounding Box: 36.017264°N, 35.811339°S, -79.053003°E, -79.264594°W

With 36,139 residents spread across 92.89 square miles, this area has a population density of 389.0 people per square mile.

Demographics

36,139

Population

90th percentile

$69,349

Median Income

80th percentile

$333,400

Median Home Value

90th percentile

92.89 mi²

Land Area

The median household income in 27516 is $69,349, and the median home value is $333,400. This places the area in the top 25% nationally for household income.

Housing

14,524

Total Units

13,477

Occupied Units

92.8%

Occupancy Rate

Nearby ZIP Codes

Other zip codes in Chapel Hill, NC.

27514

Chapel Hill

27515

Chapel Hill

27517

Chapel Hill

27599

Chapel Hill

Similar ZIP Codes in North Carolina

ZIP codes with similar median household income in North Carolina.

28211

Charlotte

$70,403

27511

Cary

$67,310

27235

Colfax

$71,439

27612

Raleigh

$69,237

27560

Morrisville

$77,631

28202

Charlotte

$70,300

28027

Concord

$59,257

28079

Indian Trail

$66,385

Frequently Asked Questions

What information is available for each ZIP code?

Each ZIP code page shows city, state, county, geographic coordinates, timezone, population, median household income, median home value, housing units, land area, population density, commute time, educational attainment, area codes, and ZIP code type (Standard, PO Box, or Unique).

What are the different types of ZIP codes?

There are three types of ZIP codes: Standard (residential and commercial delivery areas), PO Box (assigned to post office box sections), and Unique (assigned to a single high-volume address like a government agency or large company). Standard ZIP codes are the most common.

How often is ZIP code data updated?

ZIP code assignments are updated quarterly by the USPS. Demographic data comes from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), which releases new 5-year estimates annually. ZipFYI updates its data to reflect the latest available information.

What is population density and why does it matter?

Population density measures the number of people per square mile in a ZIP code area. It helps identify urban vs. rural areas, affects real estate values, impacts service availability, and is used in market analysis. Dense urban ZIP codes may have 50,000+ people per square mile.

How are ZIP code boundaries determined?

ZIP code boundaries are determined by the USPS based on mail delivery routes, not political or geographic boundaries. They follow carrier routes and may cross city, county, or even state lines. Boundaries can change when the USPS reorganizes delivery operations.

What does median household income tell me about a ZIP code?

Median household income is the middle value when all household incomes in a ZIP code are sorted. Half of households earn more and half earn less. It is a better indicator of typical earnings than average income, which can be skewed by very high or very low outliers.