How much does it cost to rent in Durham, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Durham, NC is $1,700. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Durham cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Durham falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #70 out of 126 cities at $1,700/mo.

When was Durham rent data last updated?

Durham rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NC

Durham

Name: Average Rent Prices in Durham, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 291,467·70th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Durham, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,700/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

-$265

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Durham · $1,700

More affordable than 61% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

71/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Durham's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,700/mo

Expected by trend

$1,896/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Durham's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,517

1 BR

$1,600

2 BR

$1,832

3 BR

$2,280

4 BR+

$2,747

Research median

$1,832/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,400/yr

At $1,700/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.8% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Durham, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, 57.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

291,467

Median income

$81,619

Median age

35.1

Renters

47.7%

Age distribution

20.1%

29.8%

25.9%

13.5%

Under 1820.1%

18–3429.8%

35–5425.9%

55–6410.7%

65+13.5%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

42.1%

33.5%

15.2%

White42.1%

Black33.5%

Hispanic15.2%

Asian5.8%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

14.8%

20.1%

57.3%

No HS diploma7.9%

HS diploma14.8%

Some college20.1%

Bachelor's+57.3%

Housing tenure

52.3%

47.7%

Owner52.3%

Renter47.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Durham, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,350 → $1,700

up 25.9%

Income

$66,623 → $81,619

up 22.5%

Population

279,106 → 291,467

up 4.4%

Renter share

48.1% → 47.7%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

52.8% → 57.3%

+4.5 pts

Median age

34.6 → 35.1

+0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Durham, NC has increased by $350 per month, settling near $1,700 after starting the period at $1,350. Household income in the area moved from $66,623 to $81,619 across the same window, up 22.5% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 3.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 279,106 to 291,467 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.4% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 52.8% to 57.3%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Durham, NC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Durham

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View Durham rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Durham on your salary?

At $1,700/mo, how Durham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 15.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 34.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 31% income

stretched

By apartment size

Durham rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Durham. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Durham

About renting in Durham, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Durham is $1,700/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,517/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,832/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,280/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($81,619/yr), Durham ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Durham an affordable city for renters?

Durham is considered affordable for renters. At $1,700/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($81,619/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Durham falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Durham?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,700/mo in Durham. The local median household income is $81,619/yr, meaning the typical Durham household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Durham?

Rent in Durham has increased 3.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Durham neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Durham are 27707 ($1,430/mo), 27713 ($1,595/mo), and 27705 ($1,722/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Durham is $1,700/mo.

How does Durham rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Durham is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #70 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,700/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Durham?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Durham ($1,700/mo): Hillsborough ($1,454/mo), Carrboro ($1,480/mo).

What percentage of Durham residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 47.7% of Durham households are renters, while 52.3% are owner-occupied. Durham leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Durham rent compare to the national average?

Durham's median rent of $1,700/mo is $265 (13%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #70 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,700/mo, rent takes ~25% of Durham's median household income ($81,619/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Durham 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Durham affordability calculator →

Nearby cities