Durham, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of Durham, North Carolina is 288,465 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 75th-largest city in the United States and the 4th-largest in North Carolina. The median household income is $79,234, the median home value is $355,300, and the median age is 34.8.

The population has grown 30.8% since 2010 (230,727 → 301,870).

288,465

Population

2427

People / sq mi

$79,234

Median Income

$355,300

Median Home Value

Durham covers 118.8 sq mi of land at 2427 people per square mile.

About Durham, NC

Durham is a city in North Carolina with a population of 288,465. It ranks #4 among cities in North Carolina by population. The median age is 34.8, younger than the national median. The population is 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

The median household income in Durham is $79,234, above the US median of $74,580. 8.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $355,300, with monthly rent averaging $1,412. The homeownership rate of 51.8% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Durham reflects 55.7% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 20.6% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 22.7 minutes each way.

Durham city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of Durham city had a population of 230,727 in 2010 and 301,870 in 2024, a 30.8% growth over 14 years. The peak was 301,870 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.94%.

301,870

Population (2024)

230,727

Population (2010)

301,870

Peak (2024)

1.94%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	230,727	-	-	estimate
2011	235,341	+4,614	+2.00%	estimate
2012	241,117	+5,776	+2.45%	estimate
2013	246,992	+5,875	+2.44%	estimate
2014	253,290	+6,298	+2.55%	estimate
2015	258,647	+5,357	+2.11%	estimate
2016	265,499	+6,852	+2.65%	estimate
2017	269,844	+4,345	+1.64%	estimate
2018	274,557	+4,713	+1.75%	estimate
2019	278,993	+4,436	+1.62%	estimate
2020	281,679	+2,686	+0.96%	estimate
2021	286,652	+4,973	+1.77%	estimate
2022	290,982	+4,330	+1.51%	estimate
2023	296,382	+5,400	+1.86%	estimate
2024	301,870	+5,488	+1.85%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	43.9%
Black or African American	34.4%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.9%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Economy & Income

$79,234

Median Household Income

$47,246

Per Capita Income

8.1%

Poverty Rate

2.9%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$355,300

Median Home Value

$1,412

Median Rent

51.8%

Owner-Occupied

Education

91.4%

High School+

55.7%

Bachelor's+

Commute

2.2%

Drive Alone

65.2%

Public Transit

20.6%

Work From Home

22.7 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

38.1%

Foreign Born

79.8%

Non-English at Home

4.9%

Veterans

9.9%

With Disability

88.4%

Health Insurance

96.9%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management	34.3%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	17.2%
Education, Health Care & Social Services	7.8%
Manufacturing	6.9%
Construction	5.7%
Information	5.7%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services	4.0%
Public Administration	4.0%
Retail Trade	3.0%
Transportation & Warehousing	1.7%
Agriculture & Mining	0.3%

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Raleigh (470,763)Greensboro (298,564)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Cary (176,686)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)Asheville (94,369)View all North Carolina cities →

Largest counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

City rankings

US Cities by Population Cities With Highest Median Income Expensive US Cities by Home Value Youngest US Cities by Median Age Racially Diverse US Cities Cities With Highest Rent Educated US Cities Cities With Highest Work From Home Rates Cheapest US Cities by Median Home Value Cities With Lowest Rent All rankings →

Common questions about Durham, NC

What is the population of Durham city, NC?What is the median household income in Durham city, NC?What is the median home value in Durham city, NC?What are the demographics of Durham city, NC?What is the cost of living in Durham city, NC?Is Durham city, NC growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Durham, North Carolina has a population of 288,465 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 75th-largest city in the United States and the 4th-largest in North Carolina.

The median household income in Durham, North Carolina is $79,234, with 8.1% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in Durham, North Carolina is $355,300, with median monthly rent at $1,412 and a homeownership rate of 51.8%.

The median age in Durham, North Carolina is 34.8 years. The population is 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

The population has grown 30.8% since 2010 (230,727 → 301,870).