Chapel Hill, NC vs Portland, ME
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
Portland
72.9
#814 nationally
Portland leads in walk score (65 vs 34). Chapel Hill leads in median household income ($85,940 vs $71,853). Portland leads in cost of living index (118 vs 133).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Chapel Hill, NC | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68.6 (#1303) | 72.9 (#814) |
| Population | 62,043 | 68,408 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $636,021 | $566,902 |
| Median Household Income | $85,940 | $71,853 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 21.2 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 65 |
| Crime Level | 4.7 | Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 7.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 133 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.1 | D+36.3 |
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 →
C-
72.9 Score
Portland, ME
Foodie paradise on the coast
Median Home
$566,902
Population
68,408
Crime
Low
Schools
B+
Northeast
View Portland, ME →
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