Durham County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Durham County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Durham County Around averageWealthier than 92% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Durham County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $84,826 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $63,450 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.4% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.6% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Durham County is about 17% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Durham County (5.7%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Durham County 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 County, North Carolina grew by 69.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $84,826 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Durham County
| Metric | Durham County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,455 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $65,499 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 8.3% | 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 County, it is 0.529, 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 9% more than women's income in Durham County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 9% wage gap accumulates to roughly $208,460 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 County, North Carolina has widened from about 7% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 12% in 2021, and was narrowest at 3% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,946 since 2009.
Against the trend: the pay gap in Durham County widened by 1.5 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Durham County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.9% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 7,198 people are unemployed in Durham County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Durham County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Durham County, North Carolina has fallen from 8.1% to 3.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.4% in 2013.
Durham County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Durham County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 331,707 residents against a local median of 80,150. Durham County, NC sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 13% above the local median at 5.7%/yr against 5.0%/yr. Durham County, NC has the 2nd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| 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 County, NC | 331,707 | $84,826 #4/6 | 5.7%/yr #2/6 | 3.9% #3/6 | 0.529 #1/6 |
| Orange County, NC | 149,658 | $88,923 | 4.8%/yr | 3.6% | 0.586 |
| Wake County, NC | 1,178,613 | $105,784 | 5.2%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Granville County, NC | 60,874 | $71,064 | 4.4%/yr | 4.5% | 0.570 |
| Person County, NC | 39,541 | $64,160 | 5.0%/yr | 5.6% | 0.548 |
| Chatham County, NC | 80,150 | $93,685 | 6.1%/yr | 2.9% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Durham County, North Carolina has an overall wealth 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 income and wealth in Durham County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Durham County, North Carolina?
Durham County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $84,826, about 17% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Durham County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Durham County, North Carolina rose 70%, from $49,933 to $84,826. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +70% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Durham County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Durham County, North Carolina was $80,159, up 7% from $74,998 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Durham County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Durham County, North Carolina was $63,629. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $84,826.
How many people earn six figures in Durham County, North Carolina?
Yes. 16% of adults in Durham County, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 14% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Durham County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Durham County is 0.529. 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 County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Durham County, North Carolina has widened from about 7% to 8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 12% in 2021, and was narrowest at 3% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,946 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 →