Durham County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Durham County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 329,405. It is the 6th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Durham County is 35.8 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Durham County is $79,501. This is 14% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 1% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is 9% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $351,700. Housing costs are 36% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 55.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Durham County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 32.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (32.8% vs 20.3%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.1% vs 3.1%).

Education

53.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Durham County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 54% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.7%. Notably, 25.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.