Rents are 12% below what Durham's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,675 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Durham, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, 57.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Durham, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Durham, NC has increased by $325 per month, settling near $1,675 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. 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.
Discussions about Durham
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Can you afford rent in Durham on your salary?
At $1,675/mo, how Durham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Durham rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Durham. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Durham
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Durham is $1,675/mo as of August 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 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Durham an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Durham?
Is rent going up or down in Durham?
Which Durham neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Durham rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Durham?
What percentage of Durham residents rent vs. own?
How does Durham rent compare to the national average?
At $1,675/mo, rent takes ~25% of Durham's median household income ($81,619/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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