Orange County, North Carolina: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Orange County is worth $428,500, property taxes on it run about $4,105 a year (0.96%), the FHA loan limit is $634,800, and closing on it means about $857 in transfer tax plus $1,021 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $428,500 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $4,105 a year, 0.96% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $634,800 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $857 | North Carolina transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $992 owner's + $29 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $1,878 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $129,900; low-income limit $101,700 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Orange County?
The median owner-occupied home in Orange County is valued at $428,500, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Orange County?
The median Orange County homeowner pays $4,105 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.96% of the median home value ($4,224 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Orange County?
$634,800 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Orange County?
On the $428,500 median home: transfer tax $857, title insurance $1,021 for both policies, about $1,878 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Orange County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Orange County (Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area) is $129,900. A family of four counts as low income below $101,700 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby North Carolina counties
- New Hanover County $353,700
- Northampton County $102,200
- Onslow County $219,500
- Pamlico County $209,800
- Pasquotank County $223,300
- Pender County $267,100
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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