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COUNTY

Durham County

North Carolina · 347,240 residents (2025 est.) · 288 sq mi
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Part of the Durham metro area
The short version

Durham County is home to 332,353 people in North Carolina. 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Growth has run 49% since 2000, or 109,039 more people. That puts it in the top 4% of US counties for household income. 55% of homes are owner-occupied. There are 1,156 people per square mile.

At a glance
Average income
median household income $82,316, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
55% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Durham County

What changed most since 1990

  • Population181,835 → 332,353 (+83%)US over the same years: +35%
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree33.4% → 55.2% (+21.8 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
  • Black share37.1% → 31.8% (−5.3 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts

Among the 100 counties in North Carolina

  • 12th in household income$82,316
  • 3rd in share with a bachelor's degree55.2%
  • 8th in home value$389,400
  • 3rd in diversity score86.8
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
332,353
+49%since 2000
from 223,314 in 2000
347,240 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,156 / sq mi
+49%since 2000
from 777 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.1
+12%since 2000
from 32.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
288 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
167K212K257K302K347K19902000201020202024Durham County
2024332K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(19,950)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(16,968)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(19,021)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(21,180)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.9%(22,815)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418.1%(60,229)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.4%(47,934)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(39,129)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.1%(36,963)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749%(29,903)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.1%(13,728)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(4,533)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$82,316
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,337 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$49,447
+114%since 2000
from $23,156 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.0%
+23.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
+1%since 2010
from 0.457 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade7.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information7.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$389,400
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,508
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $658 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 54.3% in 2000
44.5% rent
Vacancy rate
7.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.25 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.34 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
17.9%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
+36%since 2009
from 3.5 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
88
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic48.1%(107,371)
Black39.2%(87,516)
Hispanic / Latino7.6%(17,039)
Asian3.3%(7,311)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.7%(138,543)
Black31.8%(105,711)
Hispanic / Latino15.8%(52,523)
Asian5.4%(17,932)
Other5.3%(17,644)
Diversity Score
87
+8%since 2009
from 80 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
37
−5%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.2%(23,958)
Central American5.1%(16,840)
Honduran2.6%(8,661)
Salvadoran1.4%(4,541)
South American1.2%(3,959)
Puerto Rican0.9%(3,140)
Guatemalan0.8%(2,706)
Colombian0.6%(1,833)
Cuban0.5%(1,651)
Venezuelan0.2%(688)
Spaniard0.2%(665)
Dominican0.2%(637)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Costa Rican0.1%(421)
Ecuadorian0.1%(406)
Nicaraguan0.1%(396)
Argentine0.1%(387)
Peruvian0.1%(361)
Chilean0.1%(184)
Panamanian0%(108)
Bolivian0%(63)
Uruguayan0%(37)
Asian origin
Chinese1.5%(4,987)
Asian Indian1.4%(4,639)
Filipino0.6%(1,880)
Vietnamese0.3%(1,154)
Korean0.3%(877)
Pakistani0.2%(639)
Taiwanese0.2%(544)
Japanese0.2%(518)
Thai0.1%(428)
Nepalese0.1%(382)
Burmese0.1%(360)
Hmong0.1%(183)
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(83)
Tongan0%(29)
Guamanian0%(14)
Ancestry
English11%(36,626)
German8.2%(27,169)
Irish7.2%(23,965)
American4%(13,171)
Italian3.6%(11,799)
Scottish2.1%(6,821)
Polish1.8%(5,920)
French1.5%(4,835)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(3,745)
West Indian0.9%(3,055)
Swedish0.8%(2,573)
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data
Nigerian0.7%(2,191)
British0.6%(2,085)
Dutch0.6%(2,075)
Norwegian0.6%(2,071)
Welsh0.6%(2,059)
Arab0.5%(1,813)
Jamaican0.5%(1,715)
Russian0.5%(1,573)
Ethiopian0.4%(1,384)
Lithuanian0.4%(1,301)
French Canadian0.4%(1,195)
Czech0.3%(1,015)
Hungarian0.3%(987)
Greek0.3%(926)
Ukrainian0.3%(885)
Danish0.2%(818)
Canadian0.2%(699)
Swiss0.2%(656)
Austrian0.2%(646)
Portuguese0.2%(606)
Ghanaian0.2%(519)
Brazilian0.2%(509)
Haitian0.1%(490)
Romanian0.1%(436)
Slovak0.1%(432)
Egyptian0.1%(411)
Finnish0.1%(396)
Armenian0.1%(372)
Iraqi0.1%(337)
Lebanese0.1%(327)
Iranian0.1%(272)
Syrian0.1%(238)
Serbian0.1%(238)
Belgian0.1%(227)
Croatian0.1%(221)
Kenyan0.1%(212)
Guyanese0.1%(210)
Turkish0.1%(203)
Israeli0%(146)
Slovene0%(137)
Moroccan0%(92)
Latvian0%(82)
Somali0%(61)
Bulgarian0%(35)
Jordanian0%(31)
Barbadian0%(30)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
55.2%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 40.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.5%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 83.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
26.3%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.6 min
+72%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.7%
−11.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
22.9%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 68.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
80.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 78.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
15.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
57.5%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
15.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2013
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.5%
+9.7 ptssince 2017
from 83.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 94.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
83.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 80.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
78.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 81.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
13.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 12.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married42.1%(55,176)
Married47.6%(62,471)
Widowed1.8%(2,306)
Divorced8.5%(11,183)
Women 15+
Never married40.5%(58,796)
Married42.4%(61,640)
Widowed6.1%(8,792)
Divorced11%(16,050)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
10.8%
−5.6 ptssince 2013
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
59.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 58.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 12.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 14.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
15.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 15.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.8%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 70.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
28.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 28.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)28.7%(4,008)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.3%(3,954)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era25.6%(3,574)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.9%(407)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(144)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 13,951 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Durham County, decade by decade

Durham County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990181,835$73,265$203,76633.4%63.2
2000223,314$78,945$233,71840.1%76.0
2010267,587$71,776$253,33244.1%82.6
2020324,833$76,131$293,07149.5%86.2
2024332,353$82,316$389,40055.2%86.8

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Durham County

Albany County
Pop 321,225
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Pop 337,697
Lancaster County
Pop 334,049
Washtenaw County
Pop 370,214
Places similar to Durham County
Head to head

Compare Durham County to nearby counties

DURHAM COUNTY VS
Orange County
Income$90,089+9%
Home value$459,500+18%
Population152,498−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM COUNTY VS
Wake County
Income$105,768+28%
Home value$461,300+18%
Population1,257,235+262%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM COUNTY VS
Granville County
Income$71,111−14%
Home value$247,700−36%
Population61,421−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM COUNTY VS
Person County
Income$63,300−23%
Home value$213,900−45%
Population40,636−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Durham County, North Carolina?

Durham County, North Carolina has about 332,353 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Durham County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Durham County, North Carolina earns about $82,316 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Durham County, North Carolina expensive?

In Durham County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $389,400, and the typical rent is about $1,508 a month.

How educated are people in Durham County, North Carolina?

About 55.2% of adults age 25 and over in Durham County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Durham County, North Carolina?

About 11.5% of people in Durham County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Durham County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Durham County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 150,518 residents, a change of about 83 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →