The Town FilesHillsborough, North Carolina
Town in Orange County · population 9,660 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $460,100
- Household income
- $98,163
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.5
Hillsborough is a town of 9,660 people in Orange County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $460,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more upscale than 89% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 89% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 87% of North Carolina towns.
How Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough is worth $460,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $98,163, which is more affordable than 22% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,368 a month. 63.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsborough | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $460,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,368 | $969 |
| Median household income | $98,163 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hillsborough
| People | Hillsborough | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 29.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hillsborough
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 30.1°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 2.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 14, 1967.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 26 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 Orange County
Orange County had 78,431 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,229 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Hillsborough itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Hillsborough
12 public schools with 6,735 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange High | 9-12 | 1,220 | 15.8 |
| Cedar Ridge High | 9-12 | 1,118 | 17.7 |
| Eno River Academy (charter) | K-12 | 810 | 13.3 |
| A L Stanback Middle | 6-8 | 625 | 13.9 |
| River Park Elementary | PK-5 | 555 | 13.5 |
| Orange Middle | 6-8 | 529 | 15.6 |
| Hillsborough Elementary | PK-5 | 434 | 13.6 |
| Grady Brown Elementary | PK-5 | 401 | 11.8 |
| The Expedition School (charter) | K-8 | 361 | 12.4 |
| Pathways Elementary | PK-5 | 352 | 13.5 |
| Central Elementary | PK-5 | 287 | 11.5 |
| Partnership Academy | 9-12 | 43 | 8.6 |
Towns near Hillsborough
- Mebane, NC10.0 mi · 17,797 people · home $338,900
- Carrboro, NC10.5 mi · 21,295 people · home $539,400
- Chapel Hill, NC10.8 mi · 61,960 people · home $613,700
- Durham, NC13.1 mi · 283,506 people · home $392,800
- Green Level, NC14.1 mi · 3,152 people · home $168,400
- Graham, NC16.3 mi · 17,157 people · home $233,800
- Briar Chapel, NC17.6 mi · 5,108 people · home $570,300
- Fearrington Village, NC19.4 mi · 2,557 people · home $472,600
Hillsborough questions
Is Hillsborough, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsborough scores better for retirees than 53% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 33%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Hillsborough?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsborough is valued at $460,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,163, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,368 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsborough?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 30.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Hillsborough get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. 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)