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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Durham Metro

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 4 counties · 588,911 residents · 1,758.906 sq mi
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The short version

Durham has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $66,380. Population has grown 38% since 2000. 49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $266,209.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
49% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
588,911
+38%since 2000
from 426,493 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
335 / sq mi
+38%since 2000
from 242 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.4
+13%since 2000
from 32.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
319K396K473K550K627K1990201020202024Durham
2024602K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,380
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,497 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,032
+68%since 2000
from $23,284 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
44.8%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.0%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information8.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade7.5%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$266,209
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $132,221 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,055
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $639 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
58.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 59.5% in 2000
41.2% rent
Afford Score
4.0
+29%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic52.4%(308,524)
Black24.2%(142,443)
Hispanic / Latino13.3%(78,483)
Asian5.3%(31,062)
Other3.6%(21,215)
Diversity Score79.5%(468,464)
Segregation Score41.2%(242,860)
Diversity Score
80
+19%since 2000
from 67 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
41
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
49.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 39.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.3%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 83.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
24.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.5 min
+66%since 2000
from 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
73.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
51.2%
−19.3 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
52.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
12.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.1%
−75.0 ptssince 2013
from 85.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+24%
Home value$307,983+16%
Population622,177−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Harrisburg
Income$81,484+23%
Home value$254,698−4%
Population617,427−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Reno
Income$87,337+32%
Home value$520,025+95%
Population578,734−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DURHAM VS
Huntsville
Income$85,881+29%
Home value$295,284+11%
Population556,444−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Durham-Chapel Hill, NC has about 588,911 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC earns about $66,380 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 $266,209, and the typical rent is about $1,055 a month.

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

About 49.3% 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 13.0% 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 244,286 residents, a change of about 71 percent over that period.

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

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