Chapel Hill, NC vs Encinitas, CA
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
Encinitas
63.4
#1769 nationally
Encinitas leads in median household income ($142,506 vs $85,940). Chapel Hill leads in cost of living index (133 vs 215). Encinitas leads in walk score (43 vs 34).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Encinitas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 63.4 (#1769) |
| Population | 62,043 | 60,841 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $1,932,178 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $142,506 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 43 |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | 5.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 215 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+16.8 |
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
63.4 Score
Encinitas, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,932,178
Population
60,841
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
43
Pacific
View Encinitas, CA →
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