Durham, NC — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 288,465 · North Carolina · Updated May 2026
Population
288,465
Median Income
$79,234
Home Price
$399,509
Unemployment
4.2%
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Bachelor's+
55.7%
Full Demographics — Durham, NC
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 288,465 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 15.3% | 13.8% | |
| White | 44.0% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 34.4% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 5.6% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 14.7% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,234 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $47,246 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,120 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 12.2% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 55.7% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $399,509 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.8% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 398 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1999 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 36.8% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.2% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.2% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.7% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.6% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 11.2% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 57.9°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 47.8 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.7 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Durham, NC | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 24.3 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Durham with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Durham, NC
Durham is a city in North Carolina, United States. With a population of 288,465, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Durham shows stronger educational attainment (55.7% bachelor's degree vs 35.8% bachelor's degree US avg) and household income ($79,234 median HH income vs $74,580 median HH income US avg). However, the city has a higher unemployment at 4.2% unemployment, compared to the US average of 3.8% unemployment. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.