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    Zip Code 27278

    Hillsborough, North Carolina — Orange County

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    📍 ZIP code 27278 is in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina.

    ZIP code 27278 is located in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina. It is a zip code in the Eastern (EST/EDT) Time Zone with an estimated population of 28,546. The area code for ZIP code 27278 is 336.

    Quick Answer

    Zip code 27278 is in Hillsborough, North Carolina (Orange County). It has a population of 28,546, median household income of $101,821, and median home value of $380,000.

    Population

    28,546

    Income

    $101,821

    Home Value

    $380,000

    Climate

    87°F / 28°F

    About Zip Code 27278

    Zip code 27278 is located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, within Orange County. Home to approximately 28,546 residents, this area sits at an elevation of 594 ft and falls within the Eastern (EST/EDT) timezone. The local area code is 336.

    The median household income is $101,821 per year, which is above the national median of $70,784. Homes in this zip code have a median value of $380,000, and the cost of living index is 127 (27% above the national average of 100).

    Summers average a high of 87°F while winters drop to 28°F. The area receives about 49 in of rain and 5 in of snow annually. The zip code covers 101.4 square miles of land area and 0.8 square miles of water.

    Key Statistics

    Population

    28,546

    Median Income

    $101,821

    Median Home Value

    $380,000

    Timezone

    Eastern (EST/EDT)

    Area Code

    336

    Elevation

    594 ft

    Land Area

    101.4 sq mi

    Median Age

    44.9

    Housing Units

    12,328

    Compare With Nearby Zip Codes

    Metric272782724327705275142723127712
    CityHillsborough, NCEfland, NCDurham, NCChapel Hill, NCCedar Grove, NCDurham, NC
    Population28,5465,50648,41232,6122,17423,541
    Median Income$101,821$88,681$71,153$94,167$57,159$91,190
    Home Value$380,000$264,200$398,500$628,700$217,300$324,400
    Cost of Living1279511317987108
    Median Age44.945.335.223.946.344.5

    Cost of Living

    Cost of Living Index127

    100 = National Average. Hillsborough's cost of living is 27% above the national average.

    vs. State Avg

    Above

    Affordability

    Expensive

    Income-to-Home

    3.7x

    Demographics

    Zip code 27278 has a population of 28,546 people with a median age of 44.9. There are 12,328 housing units in this area.

    Racial & Ethnic Composition

    white70%
    black10%
    hispanic12%
    asian3%
    other5%

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates.

    Population History

    Hillsborough (27278) population trend from 2010 to 2024

    ↓ -16.1%
    2010201220142016201820202022202422k25k29k36k

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau estimates and American Community Survey data.

    Climate & Weather

    Summer High

    87°F

    Winter Low

    28°F

    Annual Rainfall

    49 in

    Annual Snowfall

    5 in

    Hillsborough experiences warm summers with average highs around 87°F. Winters are cool with lows averaging 28°F. The area receives about 5 in of snow per year.

    Housing & Economy

    Median Home Value

    $380,000

    Median Household Income

    $101,821

    With 12,328 housing units across 101.4 square miles, 27278 has a housing density of 122 units per square mile. The home price-to-income ratio is 3.7x.

    Location & Geography

    Latitude

    36.0902°

    Longitude

    -79.0869°

    Land Area

    101.4 sq mi

    Water Area

    0.8 sq mi

    36.0902, -79.0869Open in Google Maps →

    Nearby Zip Codes

    Zip codes closest to 27278 (Hillsborough, NC) with distances:

    Find zip codes near your location →

    ZIP Codes with Similar Income Nationwide

    The five U.S. ZIP codes whose median household income is closest to 27278's $101,821. A way to compare Hillsborough to economically similar communities elsewhere in the country.

    Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.

    ZIP Codes with Similar Demographics

    The five U.S. ZIP codes whose racial and ethnic composition most closely matches 27278 (Hillsborough, NC). Similarity is measured by cosine distance on the five-category ACS demographic vector.

    Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.

    Explore North Carolina

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    People Also Ask

    What zip code is Hillsborough, North Carolina?

    Hillsborough, North Carolina uses zip code 27278.

    What county is zip code 27278 in?

    Zip code 27278 is located in Orange County, North Carolina.

    What is the population of zip code 27278?

    The population of zip code 27278 is 28,546 with a median age of 44.9.

    Is 27278 in Hillsborough, North Carolina?

    Yes, zip code 27278 is in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina. The area code is 336.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What city is zip code 27278 in?

    Zip code 27278 is in Hillsborough, North Carolina. It is part of Orange County and uses the Eastern (EST/EDT) timezone.

    What is zip code 27278?

    Zip code 27278 is a U.S. postal code in Hillsborough, North Carolina (Orange County). It has a population of 28,546 and covers 101.4 square miles.

    What is the population of zip code 27278?

    The population of zip code 27278 (Hillsborough, NC) is 28,546 with a median age of 44.9. There are approximately 12,328 housing units in this area.

    What is the median income in zip code 27278?

    The median household income in zip code 27278 (Hillsborough, NC) is $101,821 per year. The cost of living index is 127 (100 = national average).

    What is the average home price in zip code 27278?

    The median home value in zip code 27278 (Hillsborough, NC) is $380,000. The cost of living index is 127 compared to the national average of 100.

    What county is zip code 27278 in?

    Zip code 27278 is located in Orange County, North Carolina. The primary city is Hillsborough.

    What is the area code for zip code 27278?

    Zip code 27278 in Hillsborough, NC uses area code 336. It is located in the Eastern (EST/EDT) timezone.

    Is zip code 27278 a good place to live?

    Zip code 27278 (Hillsborough, NC) has a cost of living index of 127 (100 = national average), a median household income of $101,821, and median home values of $380,000. The median age is 44.9. Visit the full page for demographics, climate, and nearby zip code comparisons.

    What is the cost of living in zip code 27278?

    The cost of living index for zip code 27278 (Hillsborough, NC) is 127, where 100 represents the national average. This area is above the national average. Median home value: $380,000.

    What schools serve zip code 27278?

    Zip code 27278 in Hillsborough, North Carolina is served by the local school district of Orange County. For specific school information, check your state's department of education or GreatSchools.org.

    All demographic data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. ZIP code boundary and delivery data is sourced from the United States Postal Service (USPS). Data is updated periodically and may not reflect the most current figures. Census Bureau ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) may differ slightly from USPS ZIP code boundaries.

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    Data Sources

    Population, income, housing, age, and demographics
    U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023 vintage.
    ZIP to city and county mapping
    USPS and HUD-USPS ZIP-County Crosswalk.
    Time zones and area codes
    IANA tz database and NANPA.
    Elevation
    U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset (NED), via the USGS Elevation Point Query Service. Mapped to each ZCTA centroid coordinates. Last refreshed 2026-05-19.
    Last refreshed
    2026-05-18.

    Methodology