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Orange County, NC
4 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Orange County, North Carolina.
Population
149,678
Land area
398sq mi
People per sq mi
377
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Orange County
Orange County at a glance
- Orange County is 71% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $90,089 a year, 24% more than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $459,500 (59% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,496 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Chapel Hill (61,607), Carrboro (21,204) and Hillsborough (9,724).
Local data for Orange County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools40
- Colleges2
- Libraries3
- Banks26
- Post Offices8
- Parks80
- Grocery Stores63
- Restaurants467
- Affordable Housing16
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers9
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities3
- Historic Places28
Housing and community stats
Orange County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$90,089
Poverty rate
12.5%
Median home value
$459,500
Prices +3.3% in a year
Median rent
$1,496/mo
Homeownership
63.8%
Bachelor's or higher
61.8%
Median age
36.1
Average commute
23.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (16,558), Irish Americans (14,960), Mexican Americans (7,713).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$80,088
79,536 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$87,778
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.5B
FY 2026, $10,401 per person
PPP loans
$203M
2,971 loans, 25,817 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$4.9M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Orange County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone55.3%
- Carpooled6.2%
- Public transit4.2%
- Walked4.4%
- Bicycle1.9%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home26.8%
Average one-way commute: 23.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Orange County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
525
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
621
1.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 30°F
46.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone28 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Orange County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
28.0%
U.S. 33.3% -5.3 pts
Diabetes
9.3%
U.S. 12.1% -2.8 pts
Smoking
9.3%
U.S. 12.8% -3.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.5%
U.S. 11.1% -3.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Orange County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Orange County, NC?
- Chapel Hill is the largest city or town in Orange County, with about 61,607 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Orange County?
- Orange County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27231, 27243, 27278, 27510, 27514.
- What is the population of Orange County, NC?
- About 149,678 people live in Orange County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Orange County?
- Orange County borders Durham County, Alamance County, Chatham County, Person County, Caswell County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023