Durham, North Carolina

Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Durham.

MapsToIt planning snapshot

How much does it cost to live in Durham?

Durham planning snapshot: population 301,870, housing index 111 (near the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $355,300, median rent $1,412, and income near $79,234. Expect 89°F summer highs, 33°F winter lows, and about 23-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 730 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10 · Source vintages vary — see per-metric labels below · Methodology & sources

Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.

Housing cost index: 111U.S. avg 100
Median home value: $355,300U.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,412U.S. $1,348
Median income: $79,234U.S. $78,538
Unemployment: 3.4%U.S. 4.2%
Avg commute: 23 minCatalog avg 25 min
Violent crime: 730per 100k · avg 586.6
Summer high: 89°FCatalog avg 87°F

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Key figures

Each metric shows how Durham compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).

Population: 301,870City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Median household income: $79,234Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($78,538)U.S. $78,538
Housing cost index: 111ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year11% above U.S. avgU.S. 100
Median home value: $355,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year17% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,412City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348
Unemployment: 3.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
Avg commute: 23 min8% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
Walk Score: 3033% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
Violent crime rate: 730annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)24% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6
Property crime rate: 3807.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)23% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9
Summer high: 89°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals2.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
Winter low: 33°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (34°F)U.S. 34°F
Annual rainfall: 46.1 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals40% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
Sunny days: 247As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8% below U.S. avgU.S. 268

Population trend

Durham grew 30.8% from 230,727 in 2010 to 301,870 in 2024.

Dec 2024301,870 people+30.8% vs 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.

Is Durham expensive compared to the U.S. average?

Durham's housing cost index is 111 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($355,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,412 vs $1,348).

Housing cost index 111 (U.S. 100)
Median home $355,300 vs U.S. $303,400
Median rent $1,412 vs U.S. $1,348

How much does housing cost in Durham?

Typical ownership costs center near $355,300, while median gross rent is about $1,412 a month. Against a median household income of $79,234, rent alone is roughly 21% of income on an annualized basis.

Median home value $355,300
Median rent $1,412/month
Median household income $79,234

What is the job market like in Durham?

County unemployment recently ran 3.4% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Durham is about $79,234 (U.S. $78,538).

Unemployment 3.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
Median income $79,234

How long is the typical commute in Durham?

Average one-way commute time is about 23 minutes, with Walk Score near 30/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.

23 minutes average one-way
Walk Score 30/100

Is Durham safer than similar U.S. cities?

Published violent-offense rates are about 730 per 100k and property about 3807.6 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.

Violent 730 per 100k
Property 3807.6 per 100k

What is the climate like year-round in Durham?

Normals show summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 33°F, about 46.1 inches of rain, and roughly 247 sunny days a year.

Summer high 89°F
Winter low 33°F
46.1 in rain · 247 sunny days

Compare Durham to another city Find cities like Durham

Piedmont research corridors and coastal storm exposure both matter. Expect summer highs near 89°F and winter lows around 33°F. Average one-way commute time is about 23 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 30/100. Labor-market readings near 3.4% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 730 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.

Durham, North Carolina counts about 301,870 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $79,234 and a cost index of 111, the market reads close to the national housing-cost baseline. A typical home near $355,300 and rents around $1,412 frame most shortlists.

Durham is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Durham with nearby alternatives before you relocate.

Nearby & similar cities

Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.

Sources

Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Durham city, 1600000US3719000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
BLS: BLS LAUS · Durham County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013722 RALEIGH DURHAM INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10

Canonical profile · All North Carolina cities · Full city index