Durham, North Carolina has an overall cost of living index of 91.9, which is 8.1 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,508 per month, while the typical home is valued around $392,800. Households earn a median of $81,619 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 33. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$81,619
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,508
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$392,800
Median Home Value
Census ACS
91.9
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,417
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,507
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,711
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,117
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
91.9
Goods
96.5
Rents / Housing
69.1
Services
95.7
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $125,090 |
| Registered Nurse | $90,700 |
| Elementary Teacher | $63,830 |
| Electrician | $60,360 |
| Accountant | $74,950 |
| Plumber | $59,490 |
| Nurse Practitioner | N/A |
| Civil Engineer | $98,550 |
| Operations Manager | $133,040 |
| Market Research Analyst | $75,230 |
| Health Services Manager | $120,090 |
| Truck Driver | $53,680 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
291,467
Latest estimate
Median Age
35.1 yrs
Census ACS
33.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
13
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,367
Per month
Avg Home Value
$358,973
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 27503 | — | — | $314,200 |
| ZIP 27517 | — | $1,415 | $539,500 |
| ZIP 27560 | — | $1,639 | $418,300 |
| ZIP 27617 | — | $1,548 | $416,600 |
| ZIP 27701 | — | $1,117 | $414,100 |
| ZIP 27703 | — | $1,289 | $304,300 |
| ZIP 27704 | — | $1,204 | $229,500 |
| ZIP 27705 | — | $1,248 | $363,000 |
| ZIP 27707 | — | $1,276 | $320,600 |
| ZIP 27708 | — | — | — |
Showing top 10 of 13 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
80°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.2
poor
Hospitals
4
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
89.3%
Durham has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 91.9. The US national average is 100, so Durham is 8.1 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Durham is $1,508 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Durham is $81,619 per year.
The median home value in Durham is $392,800 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Durham has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 33.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for North Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
