Known as both Bull City and the City of Medicine, Durham is known for its college-town vibe, array of tech companies, and thriving arts scene. Former textile and tobacco mills have given way to art galleries, unique restaurants, co-working spaces, and spacious lofts. Durham is the proud home to Duke University, a cutting-edge research institution dressed in Gothic architecture.
Entrepreneurship defines the culture in Durham, from tech startups to eclectic food trucks turned restaurants, and everything in between. From the handcrafted goods at the Mothership to the national retailers at the Streets of Southpoint, Durham has an abundance of shopping options. You’ll find locals enjoying the Durham Farmers Market and Food Truck Rodeo at Central Park, visiting the Duke Lemur Center (the largest in the world), kayaking at Eno River State Park, and exploring the interactive exhibits at the Museum of Life and Science.
After you find your perfect apartment in this city, be sure to catch a play at the Durham Performing Arts Center, order a glass of craft beer at Fullsteam Brewery, taste unique coffee concoctions at Cocoa Cinnamon, or attend a concert at Motorco Music Hall.
A ring-tailed lemur at the Duke Lemur Center
The Duke Lemur Center is a sanctuary covering 85 acres
The Durham Performing Arts Center is the largest in the Carolinas
Durham's Kotuku Surf Club, a popular hangout
As of February 2026, the average apartment rent in Durham, NC is $1,307 for a studio, $1,370 for one bedroom, $1,607 for two bedrooms, and $1,918 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Durham has decreased by -2.8% in the past year.
The cost of living in Durham, NC is 1.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Durham is 1.4% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,307 - $1,918. You can expect to pay 1.6% more for groceries, 6.5% less for utilities, and 6.3% less for transportation.
Discover the best tips for finding off-campus housing in Durham, NC. Make your student life easier with our comprehensive guide on Apartments.com.
Car-Dependent
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.
Some Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Somewhat Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
Public
Grades PK-5
663 Students
Public
Grades K-5
387 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
540 Students
Public
Grades K-5
450 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
315 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
303 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,705 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
763 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
643 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
755 Students
J D Clement Early College High School
Public
Grades 9-12
395 Students
Middle College High School @ Dtcc
Public
Grades 11-12
106 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
349 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
251 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,705 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
3,469
Communities
953,823
Units
895
Cities
292
Communities
101,753
Units
116
Cities
211
Communities
67,439
Units
115
Cities
250
Communities
60,119
Units
111
Cities
70
Communities
23,308
Units
28
Cities
187
Communities
53,460
Units
135
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
