Median Income
$127,361
household / year
Median Home Value
$361,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,765
gross / month
Cost of Living
102
national avg = 100

Is Durham, CT a Good Place to Live?

Durham is a small town of 3,469 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $127,361 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Durham stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Durham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Durham city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.5

Durham's overall cost of living index is 102.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Durham costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric Durham, CT National Avg
Median Home Value $361,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,765 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 88.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $127,361 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Durham's violent crime rate is 26.5 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
26.5 /100k
Property Crime
586.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Durham is served primarily by Regional School District 13. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Durham, CT National Avg
School District Regional School District 13 —
Elementary Schools 3 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 9.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 43.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 94.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Durham sees average highs of 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 50.2 inches of annual precipitation and 38.6 inches of snow per year.

MetricDurham, CT
Average High — January37.0°F
Average High — July84.0°F
Annual Precipitation50.2"
Annual Snowfall38.6"

Demographics

MetricDurham, CTNational Avg
Population3,469—
Median Age46.938.9
Unemployment Rate6.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time25.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)89.1%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino5.2%18.9%
Asian3.3%6.3%
Under 1816.9%22.2%
65 and over15.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Middletown, CT 6 mi Higganum, CT 7 mi Wallingford Center, CT 7 mi Northford, CT 7 mi Meriden, CT 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Durham

Durham, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

06422

Durham vs Other Cities

Durham, CT vs Middletown, CT Durham, CT vs Higganum, CT Durham, CT vs Wallingford Center, CT Durham, CT vs Northford, CT Durham, CT vs Meriden, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Durham's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Durham roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $361,000 and median rent is $1,765/month.
Durham's violent crime rate is 26.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 586.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Durham are operated by Regional School District 13. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1. 43.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Durham, CT has a population of 3,469, a median household income of $127,361, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Durham averages 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.2 inches with about 38.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Durham, CT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 06422.
The population of Durham, Connecticut is 3,469 with a median age of 46.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Durham: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $361,000, median household income $127,361, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Durham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.