Hillsborough has a way of winning people over. Buyers come to look at one house, walk down Churton Street afterward, and start asking what else is available in town.
It’s easy to see why. Hillsborough is the Orange County seat, a town founded in the 1750s with a genuinely historic downtown. It’s about 20 minutes from both Durham and Chapel Hill, and it’s growing without losing what makes it feel like Hillsborough. It also tends to be overshadowed by its bigger neighbors in online searches, which means a lot of buyers don’t discover it until they’re already deep into their search.
Here’s what you should know.
What It’s Like to Live Here
Downtown is the heart of it all. Churton Street and the blocks around it are lined with historic buildings, locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, and galleries. The town’s Last Fridays art walk brings people downtown every month. Weaver Street Market, a local co-op grocery, is a community hub, and Eno River Brewing and Hillsborough BBQ Company are local favorites.
The outdoors are right in town. The Riverwalk is a paved greenway along the Eno River that connects neighborhoods to downtown. It’s one of the most-loved features of living here. Gold Park sits along it, and Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, just outside downtown, has hiking trails and one of the best views in Orange County. Ayr Mount, a historic 1815 plantation house with its own walking trail, is just east of town.
It’s a real small town. You’ll run into people you know at the grocery store. There’s a strong sense of community, and many residents are active in local government, historic preservation, and the arts.
Hillsborough’s Neighborhoods
Hillsborough’s housing ranges from 18th- and 19th-century homes to brand-new construction, with plenty in between.
Historic District. The streets surrounding downtown hold some of the oldest homes in the Triangle, with a mix of restored historic homes, cottages, and a few newer infill builds. If walking to dinner matters to you, this is where to look. Keep in mind that homes in the historic district come with preservation guidelines on exterior changes, which is worth understanding before you plan a renovation.
West Hillsborough. The historic mill village area west of downtown has smaller, older homes with a lot of character and some of the more accessible price points in town. It’s popular with buyers who want to be near downtown without the historic-district price tag.
Waterstone. A newer mixed-use area on the south side of town, near UNC Health’s Hillsborough campus and Durham Tech’s Orange County campus, with quick access to I-40. Cates Creek Park is here.
Collins Ridge. A large master-planned community just south of downtown, about a half-mile from the historic core and close to both I-40 and I-85. It’s been one of the most active sources of new construction in town, with single-family homes and townhomes, plus a pool, clubhouse, pickleball courts, and trails.
Rural Hillsborough. Head north or west toward Efland and Cedar Grove and you’ll find acreage, farmland, and homes with real privacy. Many of these properties have a Hillsborough mailing address but sit outside town limits, which affects taxes, utilities (often well and septic), and services. More on that below.
Worth knowing: A “Hillsborough” address doesn’t always mean you’re inside the Town of Hillsborough. Many homes are in unincorporated Orange County. That’s not a bad thing (often it means lower taxes and more land), but it changes your tax bill, your utilities, and which services you receive. Always check the parcel.
Property Taxes
Hillsborough sits in Orange County, which has some of the higher property tax rates in the region. For fiscal year 2026-27:
| Rate per $100 of assessed value | |
|---|---|
| Orange County | $0.6805 |
| Town of Hillsborough | $0.5130 |
| Combined (inside town limits) | $1.1935 |
On a home assessed at $400,000, that’s roughly $4,774 a year. Orange County raised its rate by about 4 cents this year.
For comparison, that’s lower than Chapel Hill or Carrboro, where an additional school district tax pushes combined rates above $1.30. It’s higher than the Alamance side of Mebane, where the combined rate is about $0.86. If you’re outside town limits, you’ll pay the county rate plus a fire district tax instead of the town rate, which usually comes in lower.
Schools
Hillsborough is served by Orange County Schools, which is a separate district from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. This is one of the most common points of confusion we see with relocating buyers, especially those who’ve read about Chapel Hill schools and assume all of Orange County is in that district.
School assignments within Orange County Schools depend on your specific address, so verify with the district before you buy. Our school zones guide breaks down how the local districts work.
Commute Times (Approximate, Off-Peak)
| Destination | Approx. drive |
|---|---|
| Duke / Downtown Durham | 20 min |
| UNC Chapel Hill | 20 min |
| Mebane | 15 min |
| RTP | 30 min |
| RDU Airport | 30 min |
| Raleigh | 40 min |
Hillsborough’s location right at the I-40/I-85 split is a big part of its appeal. You can head toward Durham, Chapel Hill, or west toward Mebane and Burlington easily.
What’s Coming
A train station. Hillsborough is planning a passenger rail station, currently targeted for around fiscal year 2028. A new greenway, the Ridgewalk, is planned to connect downtown to the station and eventually to Collins Ridge and Cates Creek Park. It’s a longer-term project, but it could be meaningful for commuters and for the town’s walkability.
Continued growth, carefully managed. New construction in Collins Ridge and elsewhere continues, but Hillsborough takes historic preservation and planning seriously. The downtown character isn’t going anywhere.
Is Hillsborough Right for You?
Hillsborough tends to be a great fit if you:
- Want a walkable, historic small town that’s still close to Durham and Chapel Hill
- Work at Duke, UNC, or UNC Health
- Want options ranging from historic homes to new construction to acreage
- Care about community, local businesses, and outdoor access
It may be less ideal if you need Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools specifically, or if you commute daily to Raleigh.
Our Take
Hillsborough is one of the most underrated places to live in the Triangle. It has more character than most suburbs, better access than most small towns, and a housing mix that works for first-time buyers, growing families, and people looking for land. Our team has helped buyers and sellers across Hillsborough and the rest of Orange County for years, from historic downtown homes to rural acreage.
If Hillsborough is on your list, or you’re trying to decide between Hillsborough, Mebane, and somewhere closer to Durham, we’d love to help you compare.
Exploring Hillsborough or other Triangle neighborhoods? Our free Triangle Buyer Playbook helps you compare areas, understand local differences like taxes and school districts, and put together a winning offer.
