Durham, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Durham, California had a total population of 5,340, the 642nd largest community in California, with a median household income of $95,417, which is 4% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.2%.
Key Takeaways
- Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 7.3x the median household income.
Durham Quick Facts
How Durham Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,987 | 5,340 | No clear change (-10.8%) |
| Median household income | $103,119 | $95,417 | No clear change (-7.5%) |
| Median home value¹ | $615,723 | $700,100 | No clear change (+13.7%) |
| Median gross rent | $1,764 | $1,105 | -37.3% |
How Durham Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 89.3%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 6.4%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 3.9%
- HS Diploma: 18.0%
- Some College: 28.6%
- Associate's: 9.1%
- Bachelor's: 22.5%
- Graduate+: 17.8%
Durham Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Butte County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | 102,188 | $66,977 | 22.7% | $468,100 |
| Oroville | 19,752 | $52,270 | 21.4% | $311,600 |
| Oroville East | 7,504 | $94,512 | 8.7% | $405,400 |
| Paradise (Butte County) | 7,392 | $67,687 | 18.2% | $416,000 |
| Magalia | 7,389 | $56,920 | 11.8% | $280,600 |
| Gridley | 7,330 | $57,974 | 17.9% | $312,800 |
| Thermalito | 6,720 | $54,865 | 20.4% | $254,900 |
| Palermo | 5,266 | $50,588 | 20.2% | $283,000 |
| South Oroville | 2,846 | $65,409 | 33.7% | $261,500 |
| Kelly Ridge | 2,825 | $54,631 | 12.3% | $277,600 |
Cities Similar to Durham
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Lakes | 5,288 | $97,813 | $374,000 | 35.4% | 7.3% |
| El Cerrito (Riverside County) | 5,325 | $108,882 | $627,400 | 21.6% | 6.9% |
| Williams | 5,585 | $90,761 | $370,000 | 14.5% | 9.3% |
| Buellton | 5,074 | $99,936 | $837,400 | 39.4% | 4.9% |
| Twin Lakes (Santa Cruz County) | 5,073 | $90,087 | $959,100 | 48.4% | 10.6% |
Population Overview
Durham is a small city located in California, within Butte County. The total population is 5,340. It ranks as the 642nd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Durham is 50.8 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Durham is $95,417. This is 4% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 18% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. The median home value is $700,100. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Durham has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.3% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (6.4%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.
Education
40.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.1%. Notably, 17.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Durham, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Durham, California?
Durham, California has a population of 5,340 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Durham, CA?
The median household income in Durham is $95,417, which is 18% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Durham, CA?
The poverty rate in Durham is 10.2%. This means approximately 543 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Durham, California?
Durham's population is 89.3% White, 0.0% Black, 6.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Durham, CA?
The median home value in Durham is $700,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 7.3x.
How educated is Durham, California?
40.4% of adults (25+) in Durham hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 17.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.