Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Durham, NC

    Is Durham a good place to live?

    Watch Durham

    Durham ranks #18 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (49/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $355,300
    +12.2% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,412
    per month
    Household income
    $79,234
    median
    Unemployment
    4.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Durham

    The median home value in Durham is $355,300 and median rent is $1,412 a month, against a median household income of $79,234. Homes cost about 4.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Durham crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Durham, NC

    Durham has about 288,465 residents, 4.2% unemployment and 29% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Durham with

    Durham vs CharlotteDurham vs RaleighDurham vs GreensboroDurham vs Winston-SalemDurham vs FayettevilleDurham vs CaryDurham vs WilmingtonDurham vs High Point

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report