Hillsborough 81 Exceptional
Hillsborough Livability #14 ranked city in North Carolina#1,408 ranked city in the USARanks better than 95% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Hillsborough

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

What's it like Living in Hillsborough?

Located in the state of North Carolina, Hillsborough is a small city with a population of 7,376 people. According to the most recent Census, 75% of Hillsborough residents are White, 15% Black and 4% Asian. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Hillsborough is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 25 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in Hillsborough is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before moving to any new city in North Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. With useful information like cost of living, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Hillsborough and in the areas around Hillsborough is a much easier task.

The livability score in Hillsborough is 81/100 and the city is ranked in the 96th percentile of all cities across America. Compared to the US average, Hillsborough ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! The cherry on top is that Hillsborough also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Hillsborough ranks very well for cost of living (A-), employment (B) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Hillsborough scores poorly for, including: crime (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Hillsborough has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Hillsborough is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Hillsborough come in at $540,337, which is 86.7% higher than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Hillsborough, the home price to income ratio is 5.5, which is 34.1% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Hillsborough

See all the best places to live around Hillsborough

How Do You Rate The Livability In Hillsborough?

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Compare Hillsborough, NC Livability

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      Hillsborough transportation information

      Statistic Hillsborough North Carolina National
      Average one way commute25min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.4%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool6.0%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.8%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.5%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home16.6%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Hillsborough, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.