What it's like to live in Durham
Durham is a large city in North Carolina with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Durham deals with crime rates above the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Strong hospital ratings
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
How Durham compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Durham
Based on Durham's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,016
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $60,320 a year
- 46% of Durham renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,560
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,280
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,508/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,508 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $392,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $392,800 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 21% below US
3.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 54% above US
507 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3599/100k · Durham Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
4 hospitals
There are 4 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 59% above US
57% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
63 public schools inside the boundary
There are 63 public schools inside the boundary and 23 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (54 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Durham's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoff is crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,508/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.