🇺🇸 United States ZIP Code

STANDARD

27517

Chapel Hill

ZIP Code 27517 is a standard zip code serving Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (NC), in Orange County, United States. It has an estimated population of 23,346 with a median household income of $86,540. 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: 35.918200
Longitude: -79.003500

Geographic Details

Land Area: 45.97 mi²
Water Area: 5.78 mi²
Population Density: 508.0 people per mi² (70th percentile)
Bounding Box: 35.949549°N, 35.738894°S, -78.960386°E, -79.090797°W

With 23,346 residents spread across 45.97 square miles, this area has a population density of 508.0 people per square mile.

Demographics

23,346

Population

80th percentile

$86,540

Median Income

90th percentile

$375,600

Median Home Value

90th percentile

45.97 mi²

Land Area

The median household income in 27517 is $86,540, and the median home value is $375,600. This places the area in the top 25% nationally for household income.

Housing

11,279

Total Units

10,299

Occupied Units

91.3%

Occupancy Rate

Nearby ZIP Codes

Other zip codes in Chapel Hill, NC.

27514

Chapel Hill

27515

Chapel Hill

27516

Chapel Hill

27599

Chapel Hill

Similar ZIP Codes in North Carolina

ZIP codes with similar median household income in North Carolina.

27608

Raleigh

$81,351

28031

Cornelius

$81,737

28277

Charlotte

$91,989

27023

Lewisville

$77,654

27614

Raleigh

$91,365

27310

Oak Ridge

$96,106

28075

Harrisburg

$81,570

27712

Durham

$77,440

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.