<p>my parents just spent the last week getting to know the area and here is a little info for those that have not had a chance to check it out:</p>
<p>VERY expensive. Chapel Hill is more so that the areas of Durham, Raleigh, Cary. Very quaint college town and very nice, clean. Very liberal. Had lunch and 3 unc college professors were sitting next to family. Interesting. </p>
<p>Houses are much more than you would think. Apts are expensive compared to where I am from. Around 1400 gets you not much. 2500 for a two bedroom that is nice. </p>
<p>Lots of country clubs everywhere. Nicest area seemed to be Meadowmont and that is very expensive. </p>
<p>gas was expensive, food was pricey and so was housing. grocery stores seem high too. save a lot of money if you plan on living off campus.</p>
<p>Prettier than most schools. Campus has lots of green areas and beautifu brick building and the zoning seems better there cause other parts of the triangle seem to put nice apts close to not so nice apts.</p>
<p>I grew up 2 blocks from campus, and go back 3 times/year to visit. Just sold a house 1 1/2 blocks from campus that we rented for 20 years. I wish I could have commanded anywhere near the rates you quote.</p>
<p>Meadowmont is brand new, and it is very pricey. I wouldn't say, however, that it even qualifies in the housing set most students would be looking at.</p>
<p>Food and restaurants run the gamut. Chapel HIll has some very nice places to eat, but also a myriad of "college" cheap spots as well.</p>
<p>Only aware of 2 Country Clubs in Chapel Hill proper, but don't hold me to that count.</p>
<p>for all of you alumi and nc residents. do you really think it is a good idea to always jump at every comment made about unc that does not agree with your opinion. </p>
<p>My parents met two families that have moved to nc, one from va and one from ny. everyone agreed that you dare not say a word of disapproval about unc. now, that is great for your school but not very fair to oos that want a true view of unc and the area. </p>
<p>there are plenty of cheap joints as you say and many fast food places but the area is more expensive than most would think and that is a fact. sorry if your house did not bring the value but since mom is a realtor we know about the values of different areas.</p>
<p>again, for a small college town, it is higher than say blacksburg or athens or many other college towns. not that it makes it bad but just the truth.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how you see polarisking's post as "jumping" at your comment. He simply indicated that your numbers relating to housing costs are not necessarily reflective of rents paid for student housing and commented that there are a range of restaurants I would have to agree with him. </p>
<p>I would also agree with you that real estate prices are generally higher than some of the surrounding areas. However, if you were suggesting that most students living off campus will pay $1400 to $2500 for a two bedroom apartment, you information is simply incorrect. Were you perhaps referring to properties your parents might be interested in acquring/leasing?</p>
<p>I was stating facts from 22 years of living in CH and attending undergrad. My perspective is buttressed by having spent the past 30 years in several different locales in the Northeast (one, a major college town.)</p>
<p>Good to know that two whole oos families, new to the area, share the same opinion. I was afraid that you were using too small of a statistical sample. ;)</p>
<p>I'm sure your Mom's very good at what she does - it doesn't mitigate the fact that rates are what they are and for you to describe the area in general terms as VERY expensive is just downright incorrect. Saying there are "Lots of country clubs everywhere" is factually wrong.</p>
<p>You're right, given CH's proximity to Research Triangle Park and its high-paying corporate denizens, it's pricier than "pure" college towns, especially southern ones.</p>
<p>I hope you do well in your college search, and if you end up going to CH, I'm sure you'll love your experience.</p>
<p>My son and a group of his friends have been renting both halves of a duplex for the last two years. It was originally a single family home on a VERY deep lot that the owner essentially built the mirror image of behind it and connected it by a very nice porch/deck.</p>
<p>Each house is about 1200-1500 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths, a living room and kitchen. Both houses have a great big porch with two swings, and as I said another deck/porch that connects them. There are a total of eight parking spots as well. Rent for my son's duplex is $1500 split three ways and the back half is slightly higher because it is newer and also a little bigger. When you consider what some people pay to park both on and off campus alone you can see the added value.</p>
<p>The house is closer to the academic core than his south campus dorm and only two blocks off Franklin St.</p>
<p>ANY highly desirable college town will be somewhat more expensive than a non-college town. We have found that rentals in Chapel Hill are comparable to those in other college towns we have compared them to. What IS different is the fact that much of Chapel Hill proper near the school is an historic district which precludes development of apartments in real close proximity to the school. </p>
<p>I guess that all things being equal, we should be thankful for what we have because it can always be worse somewhere else. Here in Texas, those planning to attend UT must put in housing applications and deposits DURING the APPLICATION process lest they end up far off campus. A friend who's D decided late to attend ended up having to rent an apartment in Round Rock which is about 15-20 minutes in NO TRAFFIC (which those familiar with Austin know is never) north of the university.</p>
<p>eadad - When is your son moving out? Sounds like a nice place for my daughter to live. I do wish she could find something like that. You can find places to eat on Franklin Street and elsewhere that are not that expensive, but really quite reasonable. On the other hand there are nice expensive places to eat, so there is something for everyone, just like every other town.</p>