The Town FilesCarolina Meadows, North Carolina
Community in Chatham County · population 727 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $443,800
- Household income
- $126,007
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 84.4
Carolina Meadows is a community of 727 people in Chatham County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $443,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 98% of North Carolina towns.
How Carolina Meadows ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carolina Meadows is worth $443,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $126,007, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $3,501 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carolina Meadows | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $443,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $969 |
| Median household income | $126,007 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carolina Meadows
| People | Carolina Meadows | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 84.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 95.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 0.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | — min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 67.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Carolina Meadows
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 48.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carolina Meadows since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 29, 1991 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 25, 2020.
Severe weather in Chatham County since 1996
Chatham County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 11, 2025 | Tropical Depression | DR-4889: Tropical Depression Chantal |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Chatham County
Chatham County had 18,540 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,876 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Carolina Meadows itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Carolina Meadows
- Governors Village, NC0.6 mi · 1,512 people · home $602,100
- Governors Club, NC2.1 mi · 1,969 people · home $889,500
- Chapel Hill, NC4.9 mi · 61,960 people · home $613,700
- Fearrington Village, NC5.5 mi · 2,557 people · home $472,600
- Carrboro, NC6.0 mi · 21,295 people · home $539,400
- Briar Chapel, NC6.1 mi · 5,108 people · home $570,300
- Morrisville, NC10.1 mi · 29,630 people · home $518,800
- Durham, NC10.6 mi · 283,506 people · home $392,800
Carolina Meadows questions
Is Carolina Meadows, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carolina Meadows scores better for retirees than 100% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 68%. 95.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 84.4).
How much does a house cost in Carolina Meadows?
The median owner-occupied home in Carolina Meadows is valued at $443,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $126,007, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $3,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Carolina Meadows?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Carolina Meadows get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carolina Meadows since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 29, 1991. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)