Chapel Hill vs Raleigh
Side-by-side rent vs buy analysis comparing these two markets
Overall Comparison
Raleigh has an edge
Raleigh currently favors renting, with better rent-to-price dynamics.
Median Home Price
$497,298.79
Median Rent
$1,913.61/mo
Price-to-Rent RatioBETTER
21.7
Property Tax RateTIE
0.84%
Price Change (1Y)BETTER
+0.1%
Price Change (5Y)BETTER
+0.7%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth Difference
$391,496
Median Home PriceBETTER
$474,087.73
Median RentBETTER
$1,667.86/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.7
Property Tax RateTIE
0.84%
Price Change (1Y)
-2.4%
Price Change (5Y)
-12.0%
Break-Even YearsTIE
N/A
10-Year Wealth DifferenceBETTER
$331,063
Key Differences
Home Prices
Chapel Hill's median home price of $497,298.79 is higher than Raleigh's $474,087.73 by 5%.
Monthly Rent
Renting in Chapel Hill costs $1,913.61/mo compared to $1,667.86/mo in Raleigh—a difference of $245.75/mo.
Buy vs Rent Verdict
Both cities currently favor renting.
Break-Even Timeline
Break-even analysis varies based on market conditions in each city.
Run Your Own Numbers
This comparison uses median values. Your income, savings, and goals matter. Use our Buy vs Rent calculator to get a personalized analysis.