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METRO AREA

Durham Metro

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 4 counties · 625,485 residents (2025 est.) · 1,758.906 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#11Most work-from-homeof 92523.1%#15Most educatedof 92553.7%
The short version

Durham has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,598. Population has grown 41% since 2000. 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $402,870. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
54% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
601,724
+41%since 2000
from 426,493 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
342 / sq mi
+41%since 2000
from 242 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.2
+16%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:625,485 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
319K396K473K550K627K1990201020202024Durham
2024602K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,598
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,497 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$50,851
+118%since 2000
from $23,284 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.9%
+22.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+2%since 2010
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$402,870
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $132,221 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,419
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $639 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 59.5% in 2000
37.7% rent
Vacancy rate
8.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.4%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.8
+53%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
90
RELATED:See current rent listings in Durham on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic60.2%(256,626)
Black28.6%(122,064)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(27,801)
Asian2.9%(12,490)
Other0%
Diversity Score66.8%(285,044)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic53%(318,688)
Black23.1%(139,019)
Hispanic / Latino13.6%(81,866)
Asian5.2%(31,483)
Other5.1%(30,668)
Diversity Score80.3%(483,090)
Segregation Score37.8%(227,435)
Diversity Score
80
+20%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
−8%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
53.7%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 39.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.7%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 83.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
26.6%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.2 min
+64%since 2000
from 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.5%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
23.1%
+18.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
56.3%
−14.2 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
13.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.5%
−75.7 ptssince 2013
from 85.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.7%
+10.0 ptssince 2017
from 82.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
81.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 83.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 10.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

DurhamCENTRAL305,561Chapel HillCENTRAL63,565
What's inside

4 component counties

Durham CountyCENTRAL347,240Orange CountyCENTRAL152,498Chatham CountyCENTRAL85,111Person County40,636
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Durham

Fayetteville
Pop 622,177
Harrisburg
Pop 617,427
Reno
Pop 578,734
Huntsville
Pop 556,444
Places similar to Durham
Head to head

Compare Durham side by side

DURHAM VS
Fayetteville
Income$82,242−3%
Home value$307,983−24%
Population622,177−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Harrisburg
Income$81,484−4%
Home value$254,698−37%
Population617,427−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Reno
Income$87,337+3%
Home value$520,025+29%
Population578,734−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Huntsville
Income$85,881+2%
Home value$295,284−27%
Population556,444−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC has about 601,724 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?

The typical household in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC earns about $84,598 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Durham-Chapel Hill, NC expensive?

In Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, the median home is worth about $402,870, and the typical rent is about $1,419 a month.

How educated are people in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?

About 53.7% of adults age 25 and over in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?

About 12.1% of people in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Durham-Chapel Hill, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 257,099 residents, a change of about 75 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →