HomeNorth CarolinaDurham County
Durham County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Durham County, North Carolina had an estimated 343,628 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 324,863, across 286 square miles. County output reached $53.29 bn in 2024, 8,282 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 296 7(a) approvals worth $229.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Durham County
How many people live in Durham County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024332,353
- Households141,847
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$82,316
- Median age36.1
- Median gross rent$1,508 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$389,400
- Home value to household income4.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher55.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree26.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over232,419
- Population under 1866,603
- Share under 1820.0 percent
- Population 65 and over48,164
- Share 65 and over14.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64217,586
- Civilian labor force184,245
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.3 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties6th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included221st of 3,222
Durham County is the 6th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 4.7 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.0 percent against 14.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Durham County
Is Durham County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024343,628
- Census 2020 base population324,863
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.78 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20246,390
- Births, 20244,139
- Deaths, 20242,337
- Natural change, 20241,802
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,162
- Net international migration, 20245,781
- Total net migration, 20244,619
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-461
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents439th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.78 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Durham County
Where are people moving to Durham County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving14,853
- People arriving, from those returns21,553
- Tax returns filed by households leaving14,829
- Net household movement24
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.19 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-41.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$79,894
- Average income of a leaving household$82,789
- Largest single originWake County (3,535 households)
- Largest single destinationWake County (3,486 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 3,535 | 5,016 | $267.1 m |
| Orange County | 1,178 | 1,742 | $91.5 m |
| Guilford County | 300 | 407 | $17.3 m |
| Mecklenburg County | 283 | 363 | $17.9 m |
| Alamance County | 267 | 448 | $12.8 m |
| Granville County | 181 | 338 | $10.5 m |
| Chatham County | 166 | 238 | $15.7 m |
| Forsyth County | 142 | 200 | $9.8 m |
Households arriving report $2,895 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Wake County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Durham County
What is the Durham County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$53.29 bn
- County GDP, 2023$49.01 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.7 percent
- GDP change over five years40.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes3rd of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes112th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$160,344
Output grew 8.7 percent in the latest year and 40.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Durham County
Employment by industry in Durham County
- Covered employment, annual average236,749
- Establishments reporting11,695
- Average annual pay$98,601
- Average weekly wage$1,896
- Health care and social assistance, employment39,876
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$76,521
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment34,629
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$137,833
- Manufacturing, employment23,508
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$142,897
- Educational services, employment23,108
- Educational services, average annual pay$111,417
- Accommodation and food services, employment15,505
- Retail trade, employment14,010
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 39,876 | 1,291 | $76,521 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 34,629 | 2,636 | $137,833 |
| Manufacturing | 23,508 | 242 | $142,897 |
| Educational services | 23,108 | 269 | $111,417 |
| Accommodation and food services | 15,505 | 892 | $29,329 |
| Retail trade | 14,010 | 930 | $41,743 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 11,976 | 810 | $57,602 |
| Finance and insurance | 10,950 | 536 | $143,800 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 39,876 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Durham County
How many businesses are in Durham County?
- Establishments, all industries8,282
- Employment at those establishments229,497
- Annual payroll$21.39 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Durham County
Building permits in Durham County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,905
- Declared construction value permitted$826.6 m
- Single family units authorized1,912
- Multifamily units authorized993
- Multifamily share of units34.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$284,535
- Units authorized per 1,000 households20.5
Single-family homes are 65.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Durham County
SBA loans in Durham County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded296
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$229.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$776,479
- Median 7(a) approval$349,800
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,017,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,119
- Jobs per approval13.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active69
- Distinct industries receiving approvals126
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms42
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter215
- Franchise loans66
- Franchise share of approvals22.3 percent
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (25)
- 504 approvals recorded74
- 504 gross approval dollars$47.7 m
- Average 504 approval$644,676
- Median 504 approval$452,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval10.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.3
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (38)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$277.5 m
The average approval of $776,479 sits well above the median of $349,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Durham County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Durham County
Do SBA loans in Durham County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded52
- Paid in full49
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.8 percent
- Status: Paid in full49
- Status: Exempt from disclosure199
- Status: Cancelled33
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed12
Of the 52 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.8 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Durham County
SBA lending by place in Durham County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Durham, approvals280
- Chapel Hill, approvals6
- Cary, approvals3
- Bahama, approvals2
- Morrisville, approvals1
- Philadelphia, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 280 | $218,075,600 |
| Chapel Hill | 6 | $1,978,500 |
| Cary | 3 | $5,765,500 |
| Bahama | 2 | $334,700 |
| Morrisville | 1 | $1,000,000 |
| Philadelphia | 1 | $987,000 |
| Jacksonville | 1 | $978,000 |
| Rougemont | 1 | $368,500 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $350,000 |
Durham accounts for 280 approvals against 6 in Chapel Hill. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Durham County
How large is Durham County?
- Land area286 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties84th of 100
- Width, east to west17.8 mi
- Height, north to south26 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land1,162
- Establishments per square mile28.96
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Durham County
Flood risk in Durham County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Durham County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370085
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Durham County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Durham County (community 370085), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Durham County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Durham County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Durham County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024332,353
- Households141,847
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$82,316
- Median age36.1
Common questions
Durham County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Durham County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 343,628 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 332,353, in 141,847 households, ranking 6th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Durham County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.78 percent since the 2020 census base of 324,863, to 343,628 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 4,139 births against 2,337 deaths, with net migration of 4,619. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Durham County?
$82,316. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $389,400, which is 4.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,508 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Durham County?
8,282 establishments, employing 229,497 people with an annual payroll of $21.39 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Durham County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 39,876 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 236,749 jobs at an average annual pay of $98,601, or $1,896 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Durham County?
296 7(a) approvals totaling $229.8 m since FY2020, across 69 lenders, with a median approval of $349,800, plus 74 504 approvals worth $47.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Durham County get paid back?
Of the 52 loans that have reached a final outcome, 49 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.8 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Durham County?
2,905 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $826.6 m. Multifamily was 34.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Durham County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Durham County come from?
The largest single origin is Wake County, with 3,535 households. Arriving households report an average income of $79,894 against $82,789 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Durham County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Durham County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Durham County
Cities and places in Durham.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Durham County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | city | 291,467 | 280 | Wholly in this county |
| Chapel Hill | town | 61,607 | 6 | 7.0 percent here, 93.0 percent Orange County |
| Gorman | CDP | 1,591 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rougemont | CDP | 703 | 1 | 87.0 percent here, 13.0 percent Person County |
A further 9 of the county's 296 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Durham County, the largest being Cary (3), Bahama (2), Morrisville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.