Durham, North Carolina Income Statistics
Durham Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Durham Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,821 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,816 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.7% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.6% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Durham is about 10% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Durham (6.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Durham earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Durham, North Carolina grew by 75.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $79,821 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Durham
| Metric | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.533 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,383 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $63,984 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 7.8% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Durham, it is 0.533, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 8% more than women's income in Durham, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $188,965 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Durham, North Carolina has widened from about 5% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 12% in 2021, and was narrowest at 2% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,456 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Durham widened by 3.1 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Durham | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.9% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,392 people are unemployed in Durham, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Durham is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Durham, North Carolina has fallen from 8.5% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.9% in 2013.
Durham, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Durham, NC compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 249,652 | $79,821 #3/3 | 6.0%/yr #1/3 | 3.8% #2/3 | 0.533 #2/3 |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 57,175 | $84,975 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.656 |
| Morrisville, NC | 22,339 | $136,940 | 3.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.499 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Durham, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Durham, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Durham, North Carolina?
Durham has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $79,821, about 10% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Durham, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Durham, North Carolina rose 76%, from $45,394 to $79,821. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +76% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Durham in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Durham, North Carolina was $75,656, up 6% from $71,410 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Durham in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Durham, North Carolina was $59,320. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $79,821.
How many people earn six figures in Durham, North Carolina?
Yes. 16% of adults in Durham, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 13% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Durham, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Durham is 0.533. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Durham, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Durham, North Carolina has widened from about 5% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 12% in 2021, and was narrowest at 2% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,456 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →