Chapel Hill, NC Demographics

A map of Chapel Hill's Population by Race

Chapel Hill, North Carolina has an estimated population of 61,607, a less than 1% change from the 61,960 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 62.8% White, 13.4% Asian, 11.3% Black, 7.6% Hispanic, 4.0% Multiracial, and 1.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Chapel Hill, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Chapel Hill is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Chapel Hill, that probability was 57.1% in 2020 and 56.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Chapel Hill is ranked the 17th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Chapel Hill was ranked the 15th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Chapel Hill's White Population

38,670 residents of Chapel Hill, or 62.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Chapel Hill is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Chapel Hill ranks 468th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chapel Hill's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Chapel Hill's population has remained roughly unchanged at 62.8%.

Chapel Hill is more White than neighboring Carrboro (61.2% White). Chapel Hill is less White than neighboring Carolina Meadows (92.8% White), Governors Village (71.6% White), Governors Club (91.7% White), and Briar Chapel (70.5% White).

Chapel Hill's Black Population

6,943 residents of Chapel Hill, or 11.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Chapel Hill is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Chapel Hill ranks 431st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chapel Hill's Black population has grown by an estimated 18.7%. Black residents' share of Chapel Hill's population has increased from 9.4% to 11.3%.

Chapel Hill is more Black than neighboring Carolina Meadows (0% Black), Governors Village (10.1% Black), Governors Club (2.1% Black), and Briar Chapel (5.1% Black). Chapel Hill is less Black than neighboring Carrboro (12.9% Black).

Chapel Hill's Asian Population

8,232 residents of Chapel Hill, or 13.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Chapel Hill is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Chapel Hill ranks 5th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chapel Hill's Asian population has declined by an estimated 11.2%. Asian residents' share of Chapel Hill's population has decreased from 15.0% to 13.4%.

Chapel Hill is more Asian than neighboring Carrboro (7.2% Asian), Carolina Meadows (5.4% Asian), Governors Village (1.1% Asian), Governors Club (3.1% Asian), and Briar Chapel (5.4% Asian).

Chapel Hill's Hispanic Population

4,658 residents of Chapel Hill, or 7.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Chapel Hill is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Chapel Hill ranks 300th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chapel Hill's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 1.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Chapel Hill's population has remained roughly unchanged at 7.6%.

Chapel Hill is more Hispanic than neighboring Carolina Meadows (0% Hispanic), Governors Village (0.6% Hispanic), Governors Club (3.1% Hispanic), and Briar Chapel (4% Hispanic). Chapel Hill is less Hispanic than neighboring Carrboro (13.6% Hispanic).

Chapel Hill's Native American/Other Population

617 residents of Chapel Hill, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Chapel Hill is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Chapel Hill ranks 383rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chapel Hill's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 30.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Chapel Hill's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Chapel Hill is more Native American/Other than neighboring Carrboro (0.6% Native American/Other), Carolina Meadows (0% Native American/Other), and Governors Club (0% Native American/Other). Chapel Hill is less Native American/Other than neighboring Governors Village (3.3% Native American/Other), and Briar Chapel (2.9% Native American/Other).

Chapel Hill's Multiracial Population

2,487 residents of Chapel Hill, or 4.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Chapel Hill is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Chapel Hill ranks 164th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Chapel Hill's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 15.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Chapel Hill's population has decreased from 4.8% to 4.0%.

Chapel Hill is more Multiracial than neighboring Carolina Meadows (1.8% Multiracial), and Governors Club (0% Multiracial). Chapel Hill is less Multiracial than neighboring Carrboro (4.5% Multiracial), Governors Village (13.4% Multiracial), and Briar Chapel (12.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.