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City · 291,467 residents · Durham County, North Carolina

Durham , North Carolina

In Durham, a typical home is worth $392,800 and typical rent is $1,508 a month. Home values, rent and income are very close to those of all of Durham County.

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  • Typical home value

    $392,800

    About the same as the county

    36% above North Carolina

    • Durham
    • County
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,508a month

    About the same as the county

    23% above North Carolina

    • Durham
    • County
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $81,619a year

    About the same as the county

    13% above North Carolina

    • Durham
    • County
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    52%

    3 points below the county

    14 points below North Carolina

    • Durham
    • County
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$384,724
3.7% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,626 a month
3.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Durham is in Durham County. The FHA loan limit ($634,800 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Durham County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Durham apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Butner, the typical home value is $231,100: 41% less than in Durham ($392,800).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Durham fell 3.7%; in North Carolina, it barely changed.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Durham

What homes there are in Durham, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Durham, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Durham County, 5.

Year built

The typical year built in Durham is 1995, about the same as in Durham County (1993).

By size, homes in Durham look like those in Durham County: 55% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 83% of owner-occupied homes in Durham are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Durham County ($634,800).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 66% of rented homes in Durham cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Durham County ($1,745); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,831 a month

Durham County: $1,821 a month

Without a mortgage

$628 a month

Durham County: $618 a month

Owners with a mortgage

71%

Durham County: 69%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Durham is $1,831 a month, near the figure in Durham County ($1,821).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in Durham County, the typical home value in Durham rose 75% since 2015–2019.

Much as in Durham County, the typical rent in Durham rose 43% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Durham rose 39%: less than home values (+75%) and rent (+43%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDurhamDurham CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.5%6.6%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.5%2.6%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.212.252.442.53
Drive alone 62%63%72%69%
Carpool 8%8%9%9%
Public transit 2%2%1%3%
Walk or bike 3%3%2%3%
Work from home 23%23%16%15%
Other means 2%2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Durham County, the rental vacancy rate in Durham is 6.5%.

More than one person per room: that is how 2.5% of households in Durham live, near the figure in Durham County (2.6%).

By size, households in Durham look like those in Durham County: 2.21 people on average.

To get to work, 62% of workers in Durham drive alone; in Durham County, 63%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Durham?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Durham, worth $392,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 47% of the typical household income in Durham, which is $81,619 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $138,079 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Durham County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Durham. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,748 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,222

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$385,685
Total interest
$554,911
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,633 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,904 a month

  • Tight

    $1,904 to $2,449 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,449 a month

    Your payment · 47%

Compared with the typical household income in Durham ($81,619 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,222
Principal & interest$2,613
Property tax$272
Home insurance$164
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$174

You need at least $13,748 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Durham and Durham County

Durham is in Durham County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Durham's own numbers

Typical home value
$392,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,508
Typical yearly household income
$81,619
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Durham County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$634,800
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,745
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Durham County.

Everything about Durham County

Buying

Buying a home in Durham

A typical home in Durham is worth $392,800: about the same as the county and 36% above North Carolina. With the typical household income in Durham ($81,619 a year), a typical home costs 4.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Durham 4.8 years
  • County 4.7 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Durham County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Durham County rose 119% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Durham County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.3% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +119% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Durham next to Durham County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Durham $392,800
  • County $389,400
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Durham $1,508
  • County $1,508
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Durham $81,619
  • County $82,316
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Durham next to Durham County and North Carolina
Measure Durham Durham County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $392,800 $389,400 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,508 $1,508 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $81,619 $82,316 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 52% 56% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,263 $3,092 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.83% 0.79% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 48% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Durham County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Durham

For a typical $392,800 home in Durham, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Durham's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,222a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,748
    Cash to close
    $25,532
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $174

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,150a month

    Down payment
    $19,640
    Cash to close
    $31,424
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $187

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,564a month

    Down payment
    $78,560
    Cash to close
    $90,344
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,927a month

    Down payment
    $58,920
    Cash to close
    $70,704
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Durham and for Durham County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Durham

0.83%of the home’s value each year

$3,263 a year for the typical owner in Durham.

  • Durham 0.83%
  • County 0.79%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Durham County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Durham County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.8%
756
Of those, with NFIP insurance
64%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.8% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 64% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Durham

Typical rent in Durham is $1,508 a month: about the same as the county. In Durham, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Durham County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,745 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.56 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Durham County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,498 $28.81 $59,920
1 bedroom $1,554 $29.88 $62,160
2 bedrooms $1,745 $33.56 $69,800
3 bedrooms $2,161 $41.56 $86,440
4 bedrooms $2,486 $47.81 $99,440

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Durham

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Durham has 6 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,590 in 27701 to $1,920 in 27713.

4 of the 6 are above the fair market rent for Durham County ($1,745).

  • 27701 $1,590$1,970
  • 27703 $1,830$2,270
  • 27705 $1,750$2,170
  • 27707 $1,740$2,150
  • 27708 $1,750$2,170
  • 27713 $1,920$2,380

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Durham when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Durham

HUD lists 82 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Durham. These are the largest.

  • Mcdougald Ter 14A Dorothy Dr, Durham 27701 285 homes, 283 low-income · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Durham · Average payment: $196 a month · Average wait: 2 months (919) 683-1551
  • Morreene Road Apartments 3206 Glasson St, Durham 27705 224 low-income homes · Studio: 24 · 1 bd: 168 · 2 bd: 32 · For families
  • Morreene Road Apartments 3412 Glasson St, Durham 27705 224 low-income homes · For families (919) 382-0321
  • Ivy Commons 412 E Pilot St, Durham 27707 223 homes, 222 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 207 · In service since 1998 · For families
  • Briar Green Apartments 1155 Briar Rose Ln, Durham 27704 200 low-income homes · 1 bd: 56 · 2 bd: 96 · 3 bd: 48 · For families

See all 82 buildings in Durham County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Durham

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Durham County; none says it serves in Spanish.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Durham

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Durham or Durham County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Durham the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Durham

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Durham, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • North Carolina Housing Coalition

    3608 University Dr Ste 201, Durham · 3 miles away

    (919) 881-0707

  • Empowerment Incorporated

    109 N Graham St Ste 200, Chapel Hill · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (919) 967-8779

  • Centre for Home Ownership & Economic Development Corporation

    960 Corporate Dr Ste 405, Hillsborough · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 12 more
    (919) 322-8118

Every agency in Durham County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Durham

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Durham

HUD’s record names them for Durham or Durham County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • The Housing Authority of the City of Durham Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (919) 683-1551

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Durham, with the typical home value.

Everything about Durham County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Durham County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Durham.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Durham

Short answers with the numbers for Durham and all of Durham County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Durham?

The typical home value in Durham is $392,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Durham County it is $389,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Durham?

Typical rent in Durham is $1,508 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Durham County is $1,745.

What is the FHA loan limit in Durham?

Durham uses the FHA limit for all of Durham County (2026): $634,800 for a one-unit home and $1,220,800 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Durham?

The typical homeowner in Durham pays $3,263 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Durham County, the rate is 0.79%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Durham?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Durham County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).