Home › NC › Durham, NC Cost of living in Durham, NC Livability score 65 · cost-of-living index 97.3 (US = 100)
How Durham compares Where Durham falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 97 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 97 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $414k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $414k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $207 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $207 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.87% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.87% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 400 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 400 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30° Map of Durham Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 97.3 metro-area #117 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.8 metro-area #106 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.54 metro-area #115 of 200 Median household income $76,040 metro-area #77 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $42,438 metro-area #70 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.6 years metro-area #76 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 52.3% metro-area #6 of 200 Foreign-born residents 13.2% metro-area #51 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 61.9% metro-area #156 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.03% metro-area #26 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +17.8% metro-area #4 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $414,340 metro-area #140 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.4× metro-area #131 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -1.9% metro-area #171 of 200 Price per square foot $207 metro-area #123 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,703 metro-area #117 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,366 Median days on market 14 metro-area #76 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.9% state #88 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.98% state #55 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.87% metro-area #100 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,704 metro-area #101 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 79.6 years metro-area #28 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 10.1% metro-area #126 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 126 metro-area #3 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $130 state #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.10% of value (~$308/yr) state #146 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #108 of 200 Commute by driving alone 65.2% metro-area #17 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 31.6% metro-area #101 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 16.3¢/kWh state #72 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $146 state #72 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $78 state #36 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 state #106 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 80.9 — Relatively Low metro-area #30 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 51 metro-area #138 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,600 metro-area #119 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,400 metro-area #85 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 48 metro-area #126 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 2 metro-area #144 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 46.1" metro-area #137 of 200 Annual snowfall 5.2" metro-area #89 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 58% metro-area #105 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 400 state #100 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,200 state #98 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Durham Major public and private employers in the Durham, NC area.
Salaries by occupation in Durham Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $209,240 Marketing Managers $162,770 Financial Managers $161,270 Pharmacists $144,730 Software Developers $135,710 Human Resources Managers $133,380 General & Operations Managers $130,310 Lawyers $128,250 Data Scientists $127,310 Physician Assistants $116,030 Mechanical Engineers $99,960 Construction Managers $98,140 Web Developers $85,900 Physical Therapists $85,010 Civil Engineers $83,660 Accountants & Auditors $83,280 Registered Nurses $78,990 Dental Hygienists $78,440 Electricians $59,820 Graphic Designers $58,390 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $57,720 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $53,450 Elementary School Teachers $51,740 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,220 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,520 Real Estate Sales Agents $48,760 Carpenters $45,380 Medical Assistants $42,160
Cities in the Durham area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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