County · North Carolina
Durham County, North Carolina
Durham County, North Carolina. Durham County had 347,240 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.9% since 2020, in line with North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 6 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 68 census tracts. GEOID 37063.
Durham County is one of the 4 counties of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
347,240
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 324,833 · ACS 2020-2024: 332,353
Median household income
$82,316
±$1,930 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$389,400
±$6,104 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,508
±$31 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
How many people live in Durham County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 324,833 residents in Durham County. The Census Bureau estimates 347,240 for July 1, 2025, up 6.9% since 2020, in line with North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 332,353 over 288 square miles of land.
| Measure | Durham County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 332,353 | 10,730,404 | +20,505 |
| Households | 141,847±932 | 4,282,345 | +15,894 |
| Average household size | 2.25±0.01 | 2.44 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 153,022±146 | 4,895,668 | +16,962 |
Durham County's population since 2000
From 223,314 in 2000 to 347,240 in 2025: up 55.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Durham County?
Durham County holds 6 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Durham with 305,561 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Durham | 283,506 | $81,619 |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill | 61,960 | $85,989 |
| Raleigh | 467,665 | $85,395 |
| Gorman | 1,104 | $47,297 |
| RougemontGEOID 3758040 | 1,001 | $104,327 |
| Morrisville | 29,630 | $125,396 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Durham County?
The median resident of Durham County is 36.1 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 14.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 41.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 31.8%. 15.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Durham County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1±0.2 | 39.1 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 20.0% | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.5%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.8% | 11.3% | +2.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 41.7%±0.2 pts | 60.0% | −0.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 31.8%±0.4 pts | 20.0% | −4.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.4%±0.2 pts | 3.3% | +0.5 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.5%±0.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.4%±0.7 pts | 9.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.2%±0.5 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3%±0.4 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 10.5%±0.6 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.8%±0.7 pts | 9.9% | −1.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.5%±0.6 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 55.2%±1.2 pts | 35.7% | +7.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 26.3%±1.0 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.2%±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 County earn?
Half of Durham County's 141,847 households earn less than $82,316 a year (±$1,930), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $75,021 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,295 after inflation. 11.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Durham County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $82,316±$1,930 | $72,388 | +$7,295 |
| Mean household income | $114,501±$2,623 | $101,208 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,447±$1,140 | $41,385 | +$5,883 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.5%±0.9 pts | 13.0% | −3.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.4%±2.6 pts | 17.7% | −7.1 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.1%±0.7 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.5%±0.7 pts | 90.1% | – |
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 County?
Owners occupy 55.5% of Durham County's occupied homes and renters 44.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $389,400 by its owner (±$6,104). The median renter pays $1,508 a month including utilities, and 38.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Durham County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $389,400±$6,104 | $288,900 | +$114,955 |
| Median gross rent | $1,508±$31 | $1,228 | +$195 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.0%±1.9 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,821±$40 | $1,631 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.5%±0.9 pts | 66.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 153,022±146 | 4,895,668 | +16,962 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.6%±1.0 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.6%±1.0 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.2%±0.3 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.9%±0.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.8%±0.4 pts | 4.9% | – |
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 County building?
Builders took permits for 4,772 new housing units across Durham County in 2025 (2,790 single-family), 13.7 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Durham County get to work?
62.7% of Durham County's workers drive alone and 22.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.
| Measure | Durham County | North Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.7%±0.7 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9%±0.5 pts | 4.7% | −0.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 62.7%±1.2 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.4%±0.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.8%±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±0.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 22.9%±1.0 pts | 16.3% | +17.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.6 min±0.6 | 25.1 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 are Durham County's census tracts?
Durham County is divided into 68 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $32,257 (Tract 10.01) to $221,250 (Tract 20.08).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Durham County compare with North Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 6th of 100 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 26th of 100 |
| Residents per square mile | 4th of 100 |
| Median household income | 12th of 100 |
| Median home value | 8th of 100 |
| Median gross rent | 3rd of 100 |
| Poverty rate | 77th of 100 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3rd of 100 |
| Median age | 92nd of 100 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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' school search.