Durham population and growth: the latest Census figures

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau: the 2010 and 2020 censuses, the Vintage 2025 population estimates for July 1, 2025, and the 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates. See the Census Bureau’s QuickFacts for Durham.

The city of Durham had an estimated 305,561 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau. That is 7.8% more than the 283,506 counted in the 2020 census, and 33.8% more than the 228,330 counted in 2010. Durham passed 300,000 in the bureau’s estimates in 2024.

Durham at a glance

• Population, July 1, 2025 (estimate): 305,561
• 2020 census: 283,506; 2010 census: 228,330
• Durham County, 2025 (estimate): 347,240
• Median age: 35.1
• Median household income: $81,619
• Households: 126,550, 52.3% owner-occupied

Growth since 2010

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses Durham added 55,176 people, a rise of 24.2%. Since 2020 the bureau’s estimates show growth of about 4,400 people a year, with the biggest single-year gain, 5,570, between 2023 and 2024. The 2021-2025 figures are estimates for July 1 of each year; the 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts for April 1.

Durham, the county and the neighbors

The city holds about 88% of Durham County’s people. Parts of Chapel Hill, Cary and Morrisville also reach into Durham County; the figures above are for each town as a whole.

Age and households

From the 2020-2024 American Community Survey:

• Median age: 35.1, younger than North Carolina’s 39.1. Chapel Hill’s is 25.8; Cary is 40.2.
• Under 18: 20.1% of residents. 65 and older: 13.5%.
• Households: 126,550, with an average of 2.21 people each.

Income and education

• Median household income: $81,619, against $72,388 statewide and $82,316 for Durham County.
• Per capita income: $49,636.
• Poverty: 11.7% of residents for whom the bureau measures poverty were below the line, compared with 13% statewide.
• Education: 57.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 35.7% statewide.

Housing

• Owner-occupied: 52.3% of households own their home (55.5% countywide); 47.7% rent.
• Median home value: $392,800, as owners reported it in the survey.
• Median gross rent: $1,508 a month.

For current market prices, which move faster than the five-year survey, see our Durham home prices page.

How to read these numbers

• Census counts (2010, 2020) are the official headcounts. Estimates (2021-2025) are the bureau’s yearly calculations from births, deaths and migration, and are revised each year.
• ACS five-year figures pool surveys from 2020 through 2024, so they describe that period, not a single year, and carry margins of error.

What this means for you

• Durham is now a city of more than 300,000, the fourth largest in North Carolina by the bureau’s estimates, after Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro (308,667).
• Growth of about 4,400 people a year shapes school enrollment, traffic and housing demand.
• Most residents are under 40: the median age is 35.

More: Durham home prices, schools guide and history and landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Durham, NC?

The Census Bureau estimates the city of Durham had 305,561 residents on July 1, 2025. The 2020 census counted 283,506.

How fast is Durham growing?

Durham grew 24.2% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, from 228,330 to 283,506, and another 7.8% by the July 2025 estimate, an average of about 4,400 people a year since 2020.

What is the population of Durham County?

Durham County had an estimated 347,240 residents on July 1, 2025, up from 324,833 in the 2020 census.

What is the median household income in Durham?

The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey puts Durham’s median household income at $81,619 in its 2020-2024 five-year estimates, above the North Carolina figure of $72,388.

Is Durham bigger than Cary?

Yes. Durham’s 2025 estimate of 305,561 is well above Cary’s 183,582, though Cary also grew between 2020 and 2025.