United States › North Carolina › Durham CITY · 2020 ACS
Durham North Carolina · 283,506 residents · 117 sq mi
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The short version
With 283,506 people, Durham is a city in North Carolina. This is an unusually credentialed place: 51% of adults have a four-year degree. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 96,471 people. 48% of homes are owner-occupied. This skews young, with a median age of 33.9. People stay put here: 80% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.9
US median: 38.8
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 31.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
121K 168K 214K 260K 307K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Durham Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $61,962
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,160 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $22,526 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 4.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.5%
Transportation & warehousing 2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.8%
Education & health services 0.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$243,000
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $125,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,098
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $657 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 48.9% in 2000
51.5% rent
2.31 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.7 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 42.4%(79,277)
Hispanic / Latino 8.6%(16,012)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 38.6%(109,401)
Hispanic / Latino 15.3%(43,470)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data from 41.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 73.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 43.5%(49,008)
Women 15+
Never married 42.7%(55,344)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 21.8%(2,509)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.9%(2,744)
Share of the 11,503 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Explore
Neighborhoods in Durham Drill deeper
Places similar to Durham Head to head
Compare Durham to nearby cities DURHAM VS
Chapel Hill
Income $85,989 +39%
Home value $613,700 +153%
Population 63,565 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Morrisville
Income $125,396 +102%
Home value $518,800 +113%
Population 32,466 −89%
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DURHAM VS
Carrboro
Income $85,743 +38%
Home value $539,400 +122%
Population 20,962 −93%
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DURHAM VS
Hillsborough
Income $98,163 +58%
Home value $460,100 +89%
Population 9,778 −97%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Durham, North Carolina? Durham, North Carolina has about 283,506 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Durham, North Carolina? The typical household in Durham, North Carolina earns about $61,962 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Durham, North Carolina expensive? In Durham, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $243,000, and the typical rent is about $1,098 a month.
How educated are people in Durham, North Carolina? About 51.2% of adults age 25 and over in Durham, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Durham, North Carolina? About 14.2% of people in Durham, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Durham, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Durham, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 146,912 residents, a change of about 108 percent over that period.
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