Chapel Hill, NC vs Lacey, WA
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
Lacey
68.1
#1347 nationally
Chapel Hill leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 25.7 min). Chapel Hill leads in walk score (34 vs 29). Lacey leads in cost of living index (122 vs 133).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Lacey, WA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 68.1 (#1347) |
| Population | 62,043 | 58,326 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $517,030 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $79,874 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 25.7 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 29 |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | 5.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+20.4 |
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+
68.1 Score
Lacey, WA
Washington community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$517,030
Population
58,326
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Lacey, WA →