July 28th, 2021
Moving To Chapel Hill, North Carolina: What You Need To Know
- What You Need To Know About Moving To Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Great Weather in Chapel Hill, NC
- Attractions Near Chapel Hill, NC
- Schools Near Chapel Hill, NC
- Homes in Chapel Hill, NC
- Tips For Moving To North Carolina
What You Need To Know About Moving To Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina has a long history as a center for culture, athleticism, and natural beauty.
The vibrant downtown, robust economy, and great education opportunities, both for children and adults, make Chapel Hill a great choice for families, young professionals, and people of all ages.
Find out why some people call the area the Southern Part of Heaven!
North Carolina Cost of Living
According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, a North Carolinian gets to enjoy the 24th lowest cost of living in the United States as of 2020. Chapel Hill’s 2021 sales tax is 7.5%, which is close to the 2021 national average of 7.12%.
Chapel Hill’s Economy
Chapel Hill is part of what is known as the “Research Triangle” or, “The Triangle”. The name is derived from the presence of North Carolina State University, Duke University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which are three major research universities located in Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, respectively.
The name was cemented by the construction of the Research Triangle Park. The 22,500,000 square foot building is the biggest research center in the US. Sometimes the Triangle is mixed up with The Triad, which is the part of North Carolina right next to the Triangle made up of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point.
In North Carolina’s economy, the Triangle is considered the most robust, resilient, and rich in job opportunities for both established and young professionals. The job market is anchored in the tech, government, education, life sciences, and healthcare sectors. Major employers in the area include corporations such as Bank of America, Cisco, General Electric, Verizon, and more.
Chapel Hill Notable Residents
Chapel Hill has had many notable residents as you can see below.
- K. A. Applegate: Young adult author of the Animorphs, Remnants, and Everworld series.
- Ben Folds: Musician, known for his solo work and for his work with Ben Folds Five.
- Lewis Black: Standup comedian, and host of “Back in Black,” a recurring segment on Comedy Central’s Daily Show for over 25 years.
- John Grisham: Author of many best-selling legal thrillers that have also been adopted into many popular films, including A Time to Kill, The Firm, and The Pelican Brief.
- Michael Jordan: 6 time NBA champion, hall of famer, and one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
- James Taylor: American singer-songwriter and guitarist. One of the best-selling musicians of all time due to having sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Great Weather in Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill, North Carolina scores a 7.5 out of 10 on the BestPlaces Comfort Index. On average Chapel Hill gets 46 inches of rain, four inches of snow, and 216 sunny days. The summer high is 89°F in July and the winter low is 29°F in January.
Feel free to check out the local temperature on our site at any time.
Attractions Near Chapel Hill, NC
Residents of Legacy at Jordan Lake® have access to enough culture, cuisine, and natural beauty to satiate all their cravings. Here’s just a sampling of the smorgasbord that Chapel Hill has to offer.
Festifall
For over 30 years, Festifall, an annual street fair, has been sponsored by the town in October. The fair showcases artists, artisans, nonprofits, and food vendors. There are also musical performances, and more!
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
Found on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead is one of the oldest and biggest planetariums in the US. The planetarium has a dome that’s 68 feet in diameter and 44 feet tall and seats 240 people.
The planetarium trained members of the Gemini and Apollo programs in celestial navigation. Alumni include Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and John Glenn.
Carolina Coffee Shop
Opened in 1922, the Carolina Coffee Shop is the oldest continuously running restaurant in North Carolina. A local favorite, Carolina Coffee Shop is known for, among many things, its delicious breakfasts.
The biscuits and gravy, eggs benedict, and smashed avocado are considered a must-try.
Dip’s Country Kitchen
Run by Mildred “Mama Dip” Council, author of 1999’s soul-food cookbook Mama Dip’s Kitchen (and several more volumes).
The eatery is a Chapel Hill institution, having nourished tens of thousands and earned accolades from locals like Michael Jordan to food writers like the New York Times Craig Claiborne.
The menu is teeming with must-haves familiar to any North Carolina resident: hushpuppies, southern fried chicken, fried catfish, banana pudding, and more.
North Carolina Botanical Garden
This 1,000+ acre botanical garden found at the University of North Carolina, is known as the center of plants native to the southeastern United States.
Downtown Chapel Hill
Home to over 95 cafes, downtown Chapel Hill is 75% locally and independently owned. Bon Appétit magazine called Chapel Hill one of America’s “Foodiest Small Towns”, so this is a destination that will reward repeat visitors for sure! It’s known for providing many of the attractions of a big city in the packaging of a small town.
Ackland Art Museum
Ackland Art Museum is home to over 19,000 works of art, with an emphasis on Asian art, works of art on paper, European masterworks, 20th-century and contemporary art, African art, and North Carolina pottery. Admission is always free!
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
A popular destination for swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, hunting, birdwatching and picnicking.
Schools Near Chatham County, NC
Here’s what Niche.com, which provides reputable school reviews, said about Chatham County Schools, the district to which residents of Legacy at Jordan Lake® will be sending their children. Middle and elementary schools are graded based on teachers, academics, and diversity.
College prep, clubs and activities, administration, sports, health and safety, food and resources, and facilities are the criteria that district and high school ratings are also based on.
Chatham County Schools
- Chatham County Schools
- Overall Niche Grade: B+
- Chatham Charter School
- Overall Niche Grade: A-
- #1 in Best Public High Schools in Chatham County
- Margaret B. Pollard Middle School
- Overall Niche Grade: A-
- #1 in Best Public Middle Schools in Chatham County
- North Chatham Elementary School
- Overall Niche Grade: B+
- Northwood High School
- Overall Niche Grade: B+
- #2 in Best Public High Schools in Chatham County
Colleges Near Chatham County
There are also many colleges near Chatham County, with some of them being among the top universities in North Carolina and the US. Niche grades colleges based on academic, diversity, athletics, professors, dorms, student life, value, campus, party scene, location, campus food, and safety.
- Campbell Law School
- Overall Niche Grade: B-
- Duke University
- Overall Niche Grade: A+
- #1 in Best Christian Colleges in America
- #1 in Best Colleges for Student Athletes in America
- #2 in Best Colleges for Political Science in America
- #3 in Colleges with the Best Professors in America
- Durham Technical Community College
- Overall Niche Grade: C
- North Carolina Central University
- Overall Niche Grade: B-
- North Carolina State University
- Overall Niche Grade: A+
- #2 in Top Public Universities in North Carolina
- #20 in Top Public Universities in America
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Overall Niche Grade:A+
- #1 in Top Public Universities in North Carolina
- #7 in Top Public Universities in America
- #5 in Best College Athletics in America
- Wake Technical Community College
- Overall Niche Grade: B-
- William Peace University
- Overall Niche Grade: C+
Homes in Chapel Hill, NC
Legacy at Jordan Lake® provides modern housing and top-of-the-line amenities in Chapel Hill, and the greater Durham-Raleigh area.
Our community combines southern charm with ample opportunity for healthy living, connecting with neighbors, and a design aesthetic that embraces our role as stewards of the land. Here’s what you should expect from our community.
Legacy at Jordan Lake® Amenities
Clubhouse
A place to meet up with friends, family, and neighbors. The Clubhouse is where Legacy at Jordan® Lake shows off its southern hospitality. It’s ideal for hosting events, and an outdoor pavilion for gatherings.
Short-Iron Golf Course
Enjoy premium golf on a perfectly manicured course surrounded by trees. Work on your game in solitude or invite a friend. Our beautiful and well-manicured short-iron course was designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III.
Tennis Courts
There are two tennis courts at your fingertips.
Swimming Pool
Enjoy our resort-style swimming pool!
Fitness Center
Modern and top-of-the-line cardio, strength training, and more.
Playground
An opportunity for the kiddos to swing, slide, climb, and more!
Trails
Enjoy over four miles of trails throughout the community.
Vital Community®
We know that the real Legacy at Jordan Lake® is the friends you make along the way, so we provide ample opportunity for every new resident to make friends.
In-Person Tours
Our representatives can be contacted via phone, email, or using our form. You can set up a guide with a real estate agent or self-guided tour.
Virtual Tours
Both M/I Homes and Lennar offer videos and interactive floor plans on their websites. Browse today!
Tour our homes in person or online. Browse homes by M/I Homes and Lennar.
Tips For Moving To North Carolina
Choosing Your Moving Company
When your whole life is going into a single moving truck that’s one serious trip. So, you need the most professional North Carolina movers you can find!
Start by reading reviews from various sources and checking in with the North Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. If you use the Better Business Bureau (BBB), keep in mind that it’s a non-profit and not a governmental agency. The customer reviews still hold weight, but the accreditation is something you pay for to get educational resources and marketing materials.
You should look for a company that’s been in service for a while. That means it’s been through the wringer, has honored its warranties and contracts, and has the references to back it up. If the company can’t or won’t provide references, you should have no problem finding one that does.
The estimate you get should be reasonable and binding. That way you actually pay what you were told you’d pay. Confirm that the company’s NCDMV license and insurance policy are still active and valid. Make sure you get valuation coverage for your possessions and your bill of lading, a document you’re legally obligated to prior to any move.
Change Your Address
Update your mailing address with the USPS a week before your move. You can change your address online. All you need is a credit or debit card.
Driver’s License
If you’re moving from within NC, you need to update your driver’s license within 60 days of your move.
Vehicle Registration
Find the vehicle registration information online on the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) website.
Voter Registration
You can register to vote in North Carolina online on the website of the NCDMV.
The Bottom Line About Moving to Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill offers a robust economy that supports a thriving culture.
From Legacy at Jordan Lake®, you can enjoy all the southern charm that Chapel Hill and the Tar Heel State has to offer, as well as the benefits of great amenities and community.
Explore our homes and more about our location today.