Carrboro is home to 21,204 people in North Carolina. 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Owners hold 44% of the housing stock. The median age is 33.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. There are 3,275 people per square mile. 4,422 more people live here than in 2000.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $85,743, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
70% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 78%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Carrboro
What changed most since 1990
Homes owned by their occupants24.3% → 43.5%(+19.2 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$212,646 → $539,400(+154%)US over the same years: +67%
Poverty rate29.4% → 12.2%(−17.3 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Carrboro's population equals 14% of Orange County's. Its number of households without a car equals 31% of the county's. Its number of residents 65 and older equals 9.2% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)33.8%(265)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)60.3%(473)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era14.8%(116)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5%(39)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 785 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Carrboro, decade by decade
Carrboro population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
11,553
$47,519
$212,646
56.7%
44.8
2000
16,782
$61,075
$303,488
60.9%
64.3
2010
19,582
$60,378
$472,139
63.3%
67.2
2020
21,295
$81,775
$468,938
69.7%
72.2
2024
21,204
$85,743
$539,400
69.9%
72.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
