Chapel Hill, NC vs Princeton, NJ
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Chapel Hill
68.6
#1303 nationally
Princeton
68.6
#1306 nationally
Princeton leads in crime level (1.3 vs 4.7). Princeton leads in median household income ($176,695 vs $85,940). Chapel Hill leads in cost of living index (133 vs 192).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Princeton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 68.6 (#1306) |
| Population | 62,043 | 30,289 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $979,905 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $176,695 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 23.7 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | 1.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 192 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+33.9 |
Data coverage note: Princeton is missing data for 1 metric that Chapel Hill has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D+
68.6 Score
Chapel Hill, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$636,021
Population
62,043
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
34
Southeast
View Chapel Hill, NC →
D+
68.6 Score
Princeton, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$979,905
Population
30,289
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$176,695
Northeast
View Princeton, NJ →
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