How many renters in Durham, NC pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Durham, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

48.5% (±2.5 points) of renting households in Durham, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

38.1% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 29.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 48.5% (±2.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 38.1% (±2.0 points)
Median share of income: 29.4% (±0.8 points)

Rent as a share of income in Durham

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Durham	Durham County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	10.8% (±1.3 points)	10.8%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	12.2% (±1.4 points)	12.2%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	14.8% (±1.6 points)	14.6%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	13.8% (±1.5 points)	13.9%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	10.4% (±1.5 points)	10.4%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	38.1% (±2.0 points)	38.0%	39.6%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Durham against Durham County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Durham	Durham County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	48.5% (±2.5 points)	48.4% (±2.4 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	38.1% (±2.0 points)	38.0% (±1.9 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	29.4% (±0.8 points)	29.4% (±0.7 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$57,602 (±$2,201)	$57,287 (±$1,955)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,508 (±$31)	$1,508 (±$31)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Durham, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Durham County (48.4%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (48.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

Statewide, it ranks 326 of 650.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Durham

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Durham
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Durham	—	48.5% (±2.5 points)	—
Gorman	6.7 mi	66.2% (±54.1 points)	Not measurably different
Chapel Hill	8.7 mi	60.8% (±4.0 points)	Higher
Morrisville	10 mi	24.8% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Carrboro	11 mi	55.9% (±6.5 points)	Higher
Governors Village	11 mi	32.2% (±22.9 points)	Not measurably different
Governors Club	13 mi	0.0% (±102.2 points)	Not measurably different
Hillsborough	13 mi	52.8% (±16.2 points)	Not measurably different
Butner	14 mi	41.2% (±16.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Morrisville, NC (24.8%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Chapel Hill, NC (60.8%), Carrboro, NC (55.9%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Durham

Are renters in Durham rent-burdened?

48.5% of renting households in Durham pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Durham spend on rent?

The median renting household in Durham, NC spends 29.4% (±0.8 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Durham city, North Carolina (place:19000, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.