Durham, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 291,467 Household income: $81,619 Rent: $1,508

Overview

Total population

291,467

Rent

$1,508

Year built

1995

Household income

$81,619

Per capita income

$49,636

Poverty rate

11.7%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

46.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

Total population

291,467

Adults over 25

202,132

Total households

126,550

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$81,619

Per capita income

$49,636

Poverty rate

11.7%

Unemployment rate

2.9%

Rent over 30% of income

46.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,508

Year built

1995

Households that rent

47.7%

Households that own

52.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

42.1%

Black

33.5%

Asian

5.8%

Two or more races

9.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

15.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

84.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

76.7%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

23.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

19.6%

High school graduate or GED

14.8%

Some college or associate degree

8.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

57.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Durham, NC with: North Carolina United States

Durham, NC

Total population291,467

Rent$1,508

Year built1995

Household income$81,619

Per capita income$49,636

Poverty rate11.7%

Unemployment rate2.9%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityDurham, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	291,467	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,508	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1995	1991	1980
Household income	$81,619	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$49,636	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	11.7%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Durham, NC, North Carolina and United States →

Summary for Durham, NC

Durham is located in North Carolina.

Rent & Income

In Durham, the typical monthly rent is $1,508 and the typical household income is $81,619. Rent here is higher than both North Carolina and the U.S., and household income is higher than North Carolina and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 11.7%, which is lower than in both North Carolina and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 47.7% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 46.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 57.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is lower than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Durham, NC — Rent vs Household Income

How Durham, NC compares in North Carolina (22 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,508	14 / 22	from lower rent	$957 – $1,902
Household income	$81,619	10 / 22	from higher income	$49,748 – $144,135
Poverty rate	11.7%	7 / 22	from lower poverty	2.2% – 24.6%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	4 / 22	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 7.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in North Carolina with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Durham, NC

Rent

In rent comparisons, Durham comes in 14th out of 22 large places. Across North Carolina, rents vary from $957 in Rocky Mount, NC to $1,902 in Apex, NC.

Household income

For household income, Durham ranks 10th out of 22 large places. Across North Carolina, incomes range from $49,748 in Greenville, NC to $144,135 in Apex, NC.

Poverty rate

Durham places 7th out of 22 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 2.2% in Apex, NC up to 24.6% in Greenville, NC.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Durham ranks 4th out of 22 significant areas. Across North Carolina, unemployment varies from 2.5% in Apex, NC to 7.2% in Asheville, NC.

💰 Rent in Durham, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,508 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Durham, NC

Annual Household Income: $81,619

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Durham, NC

Estimated Rate: 11.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Durham, NC

In Durham, NC, households that rent: 60,347 (47.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	60,347	47.7%
Owner-Occupied	66,203	52.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Durham, NC

In Durham, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 27,923 (46.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	27,923	46.3%
Other renter households	32,424	53.7%
Total renter households	60,347	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Durham, NC

Less than High School: 39,697 people (19.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 29,973 people (14.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 16,711 people (8.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 115,751 people (57.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 202,132

📊 Unemployment Rate in Durham, NC

Estimated Rate: 2.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Lincoln, NE291,932 St. Louis, MO293,109 Jersey City, NJ289,691 Plano, TX287,339 Greensboro, NC298,564 Pittsburgh, PA303,620 Chandler, AZ278,123 Buffalo, NY276,397 Newark, NJ307,188 Madison, WI275,568

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.