Skyline Panorama of Durham, North Carolina · DiscoA340 / CC BY-SA 4.0Carolina Theatre (Durham Auditorium 1924) · Maria Miracoli / CC BY-SA 4.0DPAC011 DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center DiscoverDurham · Discover Durham / CC BY 4.0The Bennett Place, by Theodore R. Davis · Theodore Russel Davis / Public domain
Durham is a large city of 284,094 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $74,710
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Durham stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. 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: 96.6
Durham's overall cost of living index is 96.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Durham costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Durham, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$316,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,296
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$74,710
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Durham's violent crime rate is 619.2 per 100,000 residents
— 63% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
619.2 /100k
Property Crime
3799.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Durham is served primarily by Durham Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Durham, NC
National Avg
School District
Durham Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
32
—
Middle Schools
9
—
High Schools
14
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
53.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Durham sees average highs of 48.9°F in January
and 87.0°F in July,
with 50.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.2 inches of snow per year.
Durham's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Durham roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $316,600 and median rent is $1,296/month.
Durham's violent crime rate is 619.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3799.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Durham are operated by Durham Public Schools.
The district has 32 elementary, 9 middle, and 14 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 53.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Durham, NC has a population of 284,094, a median household income of $74,710, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
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 48.9°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.0 inches
with about 5.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Durham, NC is covered by 10 ZIP codes: 27703, 27713, 27705, 27707, 27704, 27712, 27701, 27708, 27709, 27503.
The population of Durham, North Carolina is 284,094 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Durham: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $316,600, median household income $74,710, crime index 170 (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.
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