Durham, NC, known as 'The Bull City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in central North Carolina, Durham is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Raleigh and Chapel Hill enhance its status as a central point in the region. Durham's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Durham is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Durham Performing Arts Center, the historic Duke University, and the scenic Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Eno River State Park to the bustling American Tobacco Historic District, known for its shopping and dining. Durham's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southern cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Bull Durham Blues Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Durham's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Duke University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Durham is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Nasher Museum of Art and the Carolina Theatre are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Durham provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Durham’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Durham Bulls (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Durham include education, healthcare, and technology, with significant employers such as Duke University Health System and IBM driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient for residents.
Amenities
The area boasts an ample array of local amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores and parks, all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.
Crime
This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.
Located in the state of North Carolina, Durham is a big city with a population of 276,341 residents. Individuals of White (48%) and Black or African American (37%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 45% of the Durham population is married. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Durham, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 23 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Durham is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in North Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Durham and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, health & safety, education, employment and other important metrics.
The livability score in Durham is 81/100 and the city is ranked in the 96th percentile of all cities across America. This is a phenomenal score, as Durham ranks well in multiple categories! Durham has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Durham has higher than average grades for the following: amenities (A+), cost of living (B+), employment (B-) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Durham. The following was graded with a disappointing score: crime (F).
If you're considering living in Durham, it comes with numerous advantages, particularly in the form of an extensive selection of local amenities. These amenities play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life within this vibrant community. From easily accessible grocery stores, to conveniently located fitness facilities, a diverse range of dining establishments and a multitude of shopping options, Durham provides a comprehensive array of resources for its residents. This ensures the effortless fulfillment of your daily needs and creates ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The convenience of these local offerings greatly contributes to the overall appeal of the area, making it an enticing destination for those in search of convenience, diversity, and a gratifying lifestyle. If you're contemplating a move, the abundance of local amenities could very well be a defining characteristic of this area. A few of the enjoyable things to experience and sights to see are: Sarah P. Duke Gardens, DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center, and Museum of Life + Science.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Durham market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Durham is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Durham come in at $243,000, which is 54.7% higher than the North Carolina average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Durham, the home price to income ratio is 3.9, which is 18.2% higher than the North Carolina average.
| Statistic | Durham | North Carolina | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 74.8% | 81.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.3% | 9.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.3% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 9.6% | 4.8% | 4.6% |
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