Chapel Hill, NC vs Menlo Park, 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
Menlo Park
65.4
#1635 nationally
Menlo Park leads in median household income ($198,273 vs $85,940). Menlo Park leads in walk score (58 vs 34). Chapel Hill leads in crime level (4.7 vs 6.3).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Menlo Park, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 65.4 (#1635) |
| Population | 62,043 | 31,690 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $2,890,071 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $198,273 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 25.5 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | 6.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+50.3 |
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
65.4 Score
Menlo Park, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,890,071
Population
31,690
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Menlo Park, CA →
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