Chapel Hill, NC vs Clayton, NC
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
Clayton
67.4
#1425 nationally
Chapel Hill leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 31.5 min). Clayton leads in cost of living index (103 vs 133). Chapel Hill leads in median household income ($85,940 vs $71,698).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Clayton, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 67.4 (#1425) |
| Population | 62,043 | 30,216 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $365,680 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $71,698 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 31.5 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | R+21.5 |
Data coverage note: Clayton 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+
67.4 Score
Clayton, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$365,680
Population
30,216
Crime
Moderate-Low
Median Income
$71,698
Southeast
View Clayton, NC →