City · North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham, city, mostly in Durham County (99.9% of its 2020 residents), with parts in Wake and Orange counties, North Carolina. Durham had 305,561 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 283,506 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 291,467 (±190). GEOID 3719000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
305,561
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 283,506 · ACS 2020-2024: 291,467 ±190
Median household income
$81,619
±$2,203 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$392,800
±$6,855 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,508
±$31 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Durham and what county is it in?
Durham is a city mostly in Durham County (99.9% of its 2020 residents), with parts in Wake and Orange counties, North Carolina. It covers 118.8 square miles of land, 2,386 residents per square mile in 2020.
Durham is in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Durham County | 283,093 | 99.9% |
| Wake County | 269 | 0.1% |
| Orange County | 144 | 0.1% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Durham, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 305,561 people lived in Durham on July 1, 2025, up 7.6% since 2020, in line with North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 283,506 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 291,467 (±190).
| Measure | Durham | Durham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 291,467±190 | 332,353 | +21,765 |
| Households | 126,550±1,055 | 141,847 | +16,995 |
| Average household size | 2.21±0.02 | 2.25 | −0.15 |
| Housing units | 136,837±678 | 153,022 | +18,389 |
Durham's population since 2000
From 187,035 in 2000 to 305,561 in 2025: up 63.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Durham as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Durham?
The median resident of Durham is 35.1 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 13.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 40.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 33.2%. 15.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Durham | Durham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1±0.2 | 36.1 | +1.2 |
| Under 18 years | 20.1%±0.3 pts | 20.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.5%±0.3 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Male | 47.1%±0.2 pts | 48.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.2%±0.4 pts | 15.8% | +1.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 40.3%±0.6 pts | 41.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 33.2%±0.7 pts | 31.8% | −4.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.8%±0.2 pts | 5.4% | +0.5 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7%±0.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.4%±0.7 pts | 15.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 20.9%±0.6 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.9%±0.4 pts | 5.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.5%±0.6 pts | 10.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.7%±0.7 pts | 10.8% | −1.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1%±0.6 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 57.3%±1.2 pts | 55.2% | +7.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 27.1%±1.0 pts | 26.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.4%±1.0 pts | 83.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.5%±0.4 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Durham earn?
Half of Durham's 126,550 households earn less than $81,619 a year (±$2,203), against $82,316 in Durham County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $72,494 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $9,125 after inflation. 11.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Durham | Durham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,619±$2,203 | $82,316 | +$9,125 |
| Mean household income | $113,072±$2,545 | $114,501 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,636±$1,130 | $49,447 | +$7,388 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.7%±0.9 pts | 11.5% | −4.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.6%±2.7 pts | 16.4% | −7.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.4%±0.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.4%±0.5 pts | 97.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.7%±0.7 pts | 93.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Durham?
Owners occupy 52.3% of Durham's occupied homes and renters 47.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $392,800 by its owner (±$6,855). The median renter pays $1,508 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Durham | Durham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $392,800±$6,855 | $389,400 | +$117,002 |
| Median gross rent | $1,508±$31 | $1,508 | +$206 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.1%±2.0 pts | 38.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,831±$40 | $1,821 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 52.3%±0.9 pts | 55.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 47.7%±0.9 pts | 44.5% | – |
| Housing units | 136,837±678 | 153,022 | +18,389 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.5%±1.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 50.8%±1.1 pts | 54.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.2%±0.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 21.1%±1.1 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2%±0.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.2%±0.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Durham building?
Builders took permits for 4,483 new housing units in Durham in 2025 (2,518 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 9 of 12 months), 14.7 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Durham work and get to work?
62.2% of Durham's workers drive alone and 23.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.
| Measure | Durham | Durham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.2%±0.7 pts | 67.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%±0.5 pts | 3.9% | −0.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 62.2%±1.3 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.2%±0.8 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.9%±0.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 2.2%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 23.3%±1.0 pts | 22.9% | +17.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.3 min±0.6 | 22.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Durham?
57 census tracts lie mostly in Durham, and 17 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $32,257 (Tract 10.01) to $221,250 (Tract 20.08).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 20.26Durham County | 9,094 | $63,268 |
| Tract 17.09Durham County | 8,612 | $56,734 |
| Tract 20.25Durham County | 7,063 | $96,504 |
| Tract 18.02Durham County | 7,253 | $61,021 |
| Tract 18.08Durham County | 10,863 | $129,430 |
| Tract 20.24Durham County | 6,153 | $114,115 |
| Tract 20.35Durham County | 6,622 | $83,203 |
| Tract 20.20Durham County | 10,050 | $193,449 |
| Tract 20.34Durham County | 6,422 | $80,816 |
| Tract 20.09Durham County | 5,479 | $51,618 |
| Tract 17.05Durham County | 5,417 | $68,052 |
| Tract 20.07Durham County | 5,275 | $93,601 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Durham) · Census block assignment files
How does Durham compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Durham is the 70th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 4th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Durham ranks 132nd of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 4th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 114th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 17th | 443 |
| Median household income | 132nd | 434 |
| Per capita income | 77th | 443 |
| Median home value | 90th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 63rd | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 220th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40th | 421 |
| Median age | 377th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 360th | 443 |
| Work from home | 59th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 283rd | 439 |
Durham's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Durham with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Durham?
1 of the 57 figures for Durham on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Durham are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Durham.