Best Life Index › States › North Carolina › Cities › Durham

North Carolina city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Durham?

What it costs to live in Durham, and how it compares with other North Carolina cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

33

60th best value in North Carolina

How much you get for what you pay, versus other North Carolina cities.

Overall livability

50

35th overall in North Carolina

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Durham is home to about 279,106 people. A typical home runs $264,100 and a household earns around $66,600, a price-to-income ratio of 4.0. Among North Carolina's largest cities, it ranks 60th for value and 35th overall.

Durham at a glance

Median home price

$264,100

65th in NC of 71

Median rent

$1,157/mo

Median household income

$66,600

Home price to income

4.0x

Unemployment

4.7%

23rd in NC of 71

School rating

5/10

29th in NC of 71

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NC of 71

Walk score

34/100

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‹ See all top North Carolina cities ranked  ยท  North Carolina state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within North Carolina only. Updated 2026.