Town Highlight: Hillsborough

The town of Hillsborough, located in Orange County, is a great place to live, especially for residents who work in Chapel Hill or Durham and like the charm of a small town that also has plenty of things to do. Nestled in between the Triangle and the Piedmont Triad, Hillsborough has breathtaking scenery and small-town charm with a high quality of life. The town was established in 1754 and was a part of the Great Indian Trading Path that crossed the Eno River. Hillsborough was a hotbed for political activity during the colonial and Revolutionary War era, with many prominent politicians having lived there. The downtown district is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and features over 100 buildings from the 18th and 19th century. Today, Hillsborough is home to many artists and writers, which helps support the thriving arts and entertainment community. 

One of the benefits of buying a home in Hillsborough is that homebuyers can get a larger home for the same price as a much smaller home in a neighboring community. According to Neighborhood Scout, the median home value in Hillsborough is $260,933, while it is $477,492 in Chapel Hill, $298,617 in Raleigh, $269,923 in Durham, and $419,456 in Carrboro. Over the last ten years, the cumulative appreciation has been 36.19%, and it is projected to continue the upward trend as the entire Triangle area grows. 

Hillsborough residents are serviced by the highly rated Orange County School District. According to Niche.com, Orange County is ranked #16 on the list of Best School Districts in North Carolina. With seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools, the Orange County School District is also very diverse, including students from a wide variety of backgrounds. 

There is no shortage of activities in Hillsborough, as there are many festivals, art galleries, bars, outdoor recreation areas, museums, historic sites, shopping, salons, and more. The Hillsborough Handmade Parade is a unique event hosted by the arts council that is a Mardi Gras-style street parade featuring giant puppets, crazy costumes, marching bands, and much more. The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned and operated by local artists and exhibits contemporary and fine arts, along with crafts.There are several historic sites and museums to tour, including the Occoneechee Speedway Trail, the last remaining dirt track from NASCAR’s inaugural season in 1949. 

Hillsborough is a great place to call home for anyone that enjoys a thriving arts and entertainment scene, a robust historical background, great schools, homes at a lower price than the surrounding areas, all with the charm and calm of a small town.