CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

35.82° N · 79.12° W · GEOID 3707748

Briar Chapel

Chatham County, North Carolina · part of the Durham, NC metro

North CarolinaBriar Chapel, NCBriar ChapelBriar Chapel

The short answer

Briar Chapel is home to 6,049 people. Median household income is $166,063 a year and median rent is $3,177 a month, 23.0% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $570,300, about 3.4x annual median household income.

Briar Chapel stands out on value for money. Rent run 47% above what its fundamentals predict in the same metro area. Also notable: Owning with a mortgage costs about $779 a month less than the median rent, a rarer pattern than in 99% of places its size. It is the 2nd-lowest of 161 North Carolina places we track.

77OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Briar Chapel scores better than 77% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 26th of 161 in North Carolina.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%46
Economy 20%92
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%29
Education 10%99
Commute 10%31
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$3,177
133% above the median place
Median household income
$166,063
107% above the median place
Median home value
$570,300
79% above the median place
Unemployment
2.9%
40% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Briar Chapel

  • AffordabilityAfter the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $131,500 a year, more than in 90% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • HousingHalf the homes were built after 2014, newer housing than in 99% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 161 North Carolina places we track.
01

Moving to Briar Chapel

Chatham County gains about 25.4 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in5,643
Moved out3,923
Net+1,720

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within North Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within North CarolinaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$138K
Leavers$105K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Chatham County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.7% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.9% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Chatham County report $137,700 a year in income on average; those leaving, $105,400, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$127,100 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $3,177 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,398 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $570,300.
Getting to work
28 minutes each way on average; 41.8% work from home; 2.1% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Fulton, MD matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Income of households moving in7
$137,706
95% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
25.4
above the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out7
$105,426
50% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBriar ChapelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure6.7%17% above
Moved from another state1County figure1.9%5% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure25.4above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$137,70695% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$105,42650% above
02

What it costs to live here

High pay has not made renting easy. Household income is higher than in 94% of places we track, yet 71% of renters still spend 30% or more of income on rent.

Briar Chapel23.0%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$127,080
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
23.0%
13% above the median place
Home price to income
3.4x
10% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
23%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$131,400
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Briar Chapel, $3,177 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.3 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Briar Chapel, but easier on the budget

Places that match Briar Chapel on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Fulton, MD8416.6% vs 23.0%$50,600Compare
Castle Pines, CO8113.9% vs 23.0%$37,700Compare
Belterra, TX8015.5% vs 23.0%$67,000Compare
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX7914.5% vs 23.0%$25,800Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Briar Chapel.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Briar Chapel? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Median year built1
2014
2% above the median place
Homeownership1
93.1%
40% above the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
70.9%
40% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureBriar ChapelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$3,177133% above
Rent to income123.0%13% above
Property tax rate10.6%32% below
Home price to income13.4x10% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.63% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,7458% above
HUD area median income4County figure$129,90021% above
Property tax paid (median)1$3,5569% above
Median home value1$570,30079% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure6.0%88% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure65.8%28% above
Homeownership193.1%40% above
Renters paying 30%+170.9%40% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,39828% above
Vacant homes1County figure8.1%15% above
Median year built120142% above
03

Work and pay

42% of workers mostly work from home, more than in 99% of the 2,104 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 2nd-highest of 148 North Carolina places we track.

Works from home1
41.8%
236% above the median place
Median household income1
$166,063
107% above the median place
Income per person1
$70,238
75% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBriar ChapelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$166,063107% above
Income per person1$70,23875% above
Unemployment1County figure2.9%40% below
Average annual pay6County figure$56,42214% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure8.8%138% above
Jobs6County figure20,31887% below
Poverty rate1County figure11.1%3% above
Mean commute128 min13% above
Works from home141.8%236% above
Commutes by transit1Metro figure2.1%147% above
04

Who lives here

No health insurance is 0.0%, below the median place (median 6.4%).

No health insurance1
0.0%
below the median place (median 6.4%)
Homes with broadband1
99.5%
8% above the median place
High school or higher1
99.3%
8% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Bachelor's or higher81.6% 2.5×
Household size2.8 +12%
Median age42.0 +8%
Born abroad8.3% −6%
All 8 people measures
MeasureBriar ChapelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population16,0495907th largest
Median age142.08% above
Bachelor's or higher181.6%155% above
High school or higher199.3%8% above
Household size12.812% above
Born abroad18.3%6% below
No health insurance10.0%below (median 6.4%)
Homes with broadband199.5%8% above
05

Life in Briar Chapel

The nearest National Park Service site is Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, about 46 miles away.

58 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents19.8 +95%
Playgrounds per 10k9.9 +5%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails9 km 4.3×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park 46 miles
  • Booker T. Washington National Monument 97 miles
  • Appomattox Court House National Historical Park 109 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars14.2 −32%
Shops23.8 −21%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.6 −12%
Doctors' offices and clinics12.6 −38%
Child care centers3.4 +48%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
46.0
49% above the median place
Restaurants and bars per 10k8
14.2
32% below the median place
Shops per 10k8
23.8
21% below the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureBriar ChapelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure24167% above
Public school students12County figure10,374112% above
Students per teacher12County figure13.711% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure14.232% below
Shops per 10k8County figure23.821% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure3.612% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure12.638% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure3.448% above
Parks per 10k919.895% above
Playgrounds per 10k99.95% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails98.6330% above
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1046.049% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10150% below
National Register listings11County figure58346% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Natural hazard risk is 67.2, 27% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Briar Chapel. Larger places are fetched first.

Natural hazard risk14
67.2
27% below the median place
Wildfire risk14
33.0
46% below the median place
Heat wave risk14
72.5
20% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBriar ChapelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure90°F3% above
January average low13County figure30°F20% above
Average temperature13County figure60°F9% above
Annual precipitation13County figure46.3 in6% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure67.227% below
Hurricane risk14County figure83.318% above
Tornado risk14County figure75.87% below
Wildfire risk14County figure33.046% below
Heat wave risk14County figure72.520% below
Median air quality index15Metro figure430% above
Good air days15Metro figure71.5%4% above
08

Briar Chapel in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 24% of the median income in 2030, up from 23% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Briar Chapel does better than 44% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 77%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$3,177/mo (2024)$4,150/mo$3,410 to $5,060/mo+4.6%
Median household income$166,063 (2024)$211,500$178,500 to $250,000+4.1%
Median home value$570,300 (2024)$835,000$606,000 to $1,151,000+6.6%

The median home would be worth 4.0 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.4 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Briar Chapel

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Blue Bell, PA$3,348$171,818Compare
Morris Plains, NJ$2,835$154,923Compare
Fairwood, MD$3,435$181,458Compare
Minnetrista, MN$3,501$163,051Compare
Minnetrista, MNFairwood, MDMorris Plains, NJBlue Bell, PABriar Chapel, NCBriar ChapelBlue BellMorris PlainsFairwoodMinnetristaBriar ChapelBlue BellMorris PlainsFairwoodMinnetrista

Places built like Briar Chapel

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Briar Chapel performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Briar Chapel, NC23.0%6.9%/yrn/a
Fulton, MD16.6%4.8%/yrn/aCompare
Fairwood, MD22.7%2.2%/yrn/aCompare
Medina, MN7.4%9.3%/yr8.8%Compare
Nocatee, FL29.6%3.5%/yrn/aCompare
Marvin, NC16.1%3.9%/yr10.3%Compare
Tega Cay, SC11.9%1.6%/yr13.1%Compare

Common questions

Is Briar Chapel a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 77 out of 100, better than 77% of the places we rate and 26th of 161 in North Carolina. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $131,500 a year, more than in 90% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track. Half the homes were built after 2014, newer housing than in 99% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 161 North Carolina places we track. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Briar Chapel expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 23.0% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $570,300.

What salary do you need to live in Briar Chapel?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $127,080 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Briar Chapel?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Blue Bell, PA, Morris Plains, NJ, Fairwood, MD and Minnetrista, MN.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Briar Chapel with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Briar Chapel itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/briar-chapel-north-carolina

Citytistics. “Briar Chapel, North Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/briar-chapel-north-carolina/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.