Comparing citywide income and housing benchmarks provides a baseline view of Durham, North Carolina, though citywide data does not establish neighborhood safety, schools, weather, insurance, or job quality. The 2024 ACS 5-year median household income is $81,619, while the median gross rent is $1,508 per month and the median owner-occupied home value is $392,800. Factoring in a model assumption of a $1,250 non-housing calculator baseline alongside these housing costs requires balancing expenses against local earnings, keeping in mind that ACS gross rent is not a live asking rent.
Durham at a glance
What the default budget models
A one-person renting household begins with a modeled annual core-cost baseline of $33,096. It combines the ACS median gross-rent estimate with a uniform $1,250 monthly non-housing baseline. State income tax is excluded until a current official reference is approved; the calculator labels that limitation instead of guessing.
| 2024 ACS population estimate | 291,467 |
| 2024 ACS median household income | $81,619 |
| 2024 ACS median gross rent | $1,508 |
| 2024 ACS median owner-occupied home value | $392,800 |
| Derived one-way commute estimate | 24 minutes |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded — official reference pending |
| Rent-to-income reference | 22% |
The trade-off
Relative strength: A median household income of $81,619 alongside a median home value of $392,800.. Watch closely: a 24-minute derived commute estimate against citywide housing costs..
Compare Durham
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income and rent in Durham?
According to 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, the median household income in Durham is $81,619 per Table B19013, and the median gross rent is $1,508 per month per Table B25064. Note that ACS gross rent is not a live asking rent.
What are the home values and commute times in Durham?
The 2024 ACS 5-year median owner-occupied home value is $392,800 per Table B25077. The derived one-way commute estimate is 24 minutes, calculated from weighted midpoints in 2024 ACS table B08303.
Source ledger
Every production input below is retained with its publisher and dataset. The ACS figures are five-year estimates, not live listings or guarantees.
- PopulationU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B01003
- Median household incomeU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B19013
- Median gross rentU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25064
- Median owner-occupied home valueU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B25077
- Commute-time distributionU.S. Census Bureau · 2024 ACS 5-Year B08303
Interpretation: The ACS 2024 five-year estimates generally summarize observations across 2020–2024. The commute number is a weighted midpoint estimate from table B08303. State income tax is not included in the modeled take-home result. Verify a current address, quote, commute, and tax situation before making a decision.