One of the nation's most prestigious universities and considered one of the best universities in the world, Duke University's graduates are some of the world's most sought after. This private university was established in 1838 and was moved to Durham in 1892. Duke sits on 8,691 acres and is filled with historic Gothic architecture. Duke Forest covers more than 7,000 acres of the campus. With one of the highest number of Fulbright and Rhodes scholars in the nation, Duke is considered "most selective" and is one of the most difficult colleges to get into.
As part of the Research Triangle, Durham benefits from having so many Duke graduates. The fast-growing city is home to Research Triangle Park, one of the world's largest research parks. The park contains more than 200 companies and employs more than 50,000. It is home to IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, and Cisco Systems.
The Blue Devils participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Impressive both in the classroom and on the field, the Blue Devils have won more than 16 NCAA national championships. Cheer on the Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium and the basketball team at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Duke University Medical Center
Duke's iconic chapel was built in 1932
Perkins Library is one of the largest private university libraries in the country
The Duke Lemur Center is the largest of its kind in the world
As of January 2026, the average apartment rent in Durham, NC is $1,309 for a studio, $1,361 for one bedroom, $1,601 for two bedrooms, and $1,894 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Durham has decreased by -3.1% in the past year.
Studio
506 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,309/month
Average Rent
1 BR
735 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,361/month
Average Rent
2 BR
1,058 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,601/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,315 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,894/month
Average Rent
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.
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949,004
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882
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340
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239
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† 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 November 2025.
