Health Profile of Durham, North Carolina
Durham Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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B
Durham Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.2 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 11.9% | 9.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 14.3% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Durham is 78.2 years, about 1.1 years longer than the North Carolina average of 77.1 years. The uninsured rate is 11.9%, higher than the North Carolina average of 9.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 14.3% of residents, lower than the North Carolina average of 16.8%.
Population by Age
Older residents
68,600 residents in Durham are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 3,369 1,249 men · 2,119 women
- 75–84 7,850 2,980 men · 4,870 women
- 65–74 16,429 7,108 men · 9,320 women
- 50–64 40,953 19,040 men · 21,913 women
Younger residents
48,373 residents in Durham are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 13,913 7,077 boys · 6,836 girls
- 7–12 13,373 6,813 boys · 6,560 girls
- 3–7 11,548 5,732 boys · 5,816 girls
- 0–3 9,539 4,676 boys · 4,863 girls
About 8,403 residents in Durham (3.4% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 78.2 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 10.2% | 12.4% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 4.6% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 4.7% | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 36.8% | 35.8% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Durham is about 37% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of cancer in Durham is about 32% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of diabetes in Durham is about 17% lower than in North Carolina.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 16.7% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 15.0% | 14.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 22.8% | 25.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Durham is about 19% lower than in North Carolina.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 332,733 cigarettes a day, 10.0 million a month, or 121.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 3.7 million minutes a day and 1.3 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Durham is 78.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.09 lifetimes a day, or 33 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.75 | 5.99 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.7 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Durham is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Durham, NC Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Durham, NC compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 249,652 | 78.2 yrs #3/3 | 11.9% #3/3 | 36.8% #3/3 |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 57,175 | 81.1 yrs | 5.2% | 24.0% |
| Morrisville, NC | 22,339 | 81.7 yrs | 3.0% | 24.6% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Durham, North Carolina has an overall health index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Durham, North Carolina.
What is the health grade for Durham, North Carolina?
Durham, North Carolina has a Map AI Health Index grade of B, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a B grade means residents are somewhat healthier than the U.S. average.
How long do people live in Durham, North Carolina?
People in Durham, North Carolina can expect to live 78.2 years on average, 1.1 years longer than the North Carolina average of 77.1.
What percentage of Durham, North Carolina residents are uninsured?
11.9% of residents in Durham, North Carolina have no health insurance, about 1 in 8 people, 2.0 points above the North Carolina rate of 9.9%.
What percentage of Durham, North Carolina residents are obese?
36.8% of adults in Durham, North Carolina are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 1.0 points above the North Carolina rate of 35.8%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Durham, North Carolina go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 332,733 cigarettes a day, 10.0 million a month, or 121.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 3.7 million minutes a day and 1.3 billion a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Durham is 78.2 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.09 lifetimes a day, or 33 lifetimes a year.
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