ROIStack
Market Intelligence

Durham, NC

Updated quarterly · Data sourced from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI, Census ACS, and FHFA. · North Carolina overview

Analyze a Durham deal

Home Value

$395k+1.8%

Median Rent

$1,690+2.5%

Per month average

Gross Yield

5.13%

Annual rent / value

Rent / Price

0.428%

1% rule benchmark

HH Income

$78,000

Median household

Owner-Occ

57.0%

Renter-Occ

43.0%

Tenant demand share

Population

660k

Metro area census

Market Analysis

The Durham, NC real estate market currently sits at a median home value of $395k with median rents around $1,690/month, producing a gross yield of 5.13%. That puts Durham in the category of moderate gross yield, investors here typically lean on appreciation alongside cash flow. Over the past year, home values are up 1.8%, while rents rose 2.5%, the gap between those two trends is what determines whether yield compresses or expands over time for buy-and-hold investors in North Carolina. Durham is an owner-occupier market (57% owner-occupied) where investor competition is generally lighter, with median household income of $78,000 setting the affordability ceiling on future rent growth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Durham, NC?
As of late 2025, the median rent in Durham is approximately $1,690 per month, with rent growth of 2.5% year over year.
Is Durham a good market for rental property investing?
Durham produces a gross rental yield of about 5.13%. That is below the 7% LTR benchmark, so investors in Durham typically combine modest cash flow with appreciation upside. Run your specific numbers in a calculator before committing capital.
What is the median home price in Durham?
The median home value in Durham, NC is approximately $395,000, up 1.8% from a year ago.
How have home prices changed in Durham over the past year?
Home values in Durham have moved 1.8% year over year, while rents have changed by 2.5%. This price-to-rent gap is the single biggest driver of long-term rental investor returns in the North Carolina market.
What is the rent-to-price ratio in Durham?
Durham has a rent-to-price ratio of 0.428%, meaning monthly rent is about 0.428% of the home's price. The "1% rule" used by buy-and-hold investors looks for 1.0%+; this market falls short of that bar, which is typical for most large US metros today.

Nearby North Carolina markets

Charlotte, NCRaleigh, NCGreensboro, NC

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