County profile · North Carolina
Durham County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Durham County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 347,240
- +7.7% since 2020
- Households
- 141,847
- Median household income
- $82,316
- +35.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $389,400
- Jobs located here
- 257,395
- Highest market score
- 87
- Roofing and gutters, #9 of 1,177 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Durham County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Durham County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 347,240 people live in Durham County, in 141,847 households. Population estimates put the population change in Durham County from 2020 to 2025 at +7.7%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Durham County is $82,316 a year, 2% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 35.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Durham County spend the most on lawn care, cleaning and other household services (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle maintenance and repairs (86).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Durham County are for roofing and gutter companies (87), HVAC and plumbing companies (87) and home repair companies (83). Durham County ranks #9 of 1,177 scored counties for roofing and gutter companies.
Durham County is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area. For its number of households, Durham County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for physical therapy clinics (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for pet stores (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Durham County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Durham County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing and gutters | 87 | #9 of 1,177 | 31 | 2.2 | $14.2M | 168 | 17 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 87 | #19 of 1,707 | 68 | 4.8 | $6.5M | 137 | 77 |
| Home repair trades | 83 | #27 of 2,057 | 134 | 9.4 | $3.3M | 136 | 169 |
| Pet stores | 83 | #31 of 974 | 14 | 1.0 | $10M | 221 | 11 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 82 | #39 of 1,461 | 32 | 2.3 | $4.4M | 172 | 29 |
| Pest control | 80 | #24 of 699 | 14 | 1.0 | $16.1M | 158 | 17 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 80 | #78 of 1,493 | 74 | 5.2 | $3.1M | 104 | 96 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 79 | #205 of 2,402 | 226 | 15.9 | $4M | 117 | 84 |
| Chiropractors | 77 | #101 of 1,490 | 47 | 3.3 | $3.6M | 151 | 27 |
| Pet businesses | 77 | #116 of 2,200 | 113 | 8.0 | $1.2M | 141 | 84 |
| Convenience stores | 77 | #260 of 2,261 | 116 | 8.2 | $7.7M | 98 | 32 |
| Electricians | 76 | #83 of 1,160 | 35 | 2.5 | $12.6M | 105 | 75 |
| Pizza | 75 | #165 of 2,090 | 79 | 5.6 | $7.4M | 145 | 292 |
| Grocery stores | 75 | #304 of 2,070 | 86 | 6.1 | $10.4M | 112 | 52 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 74 | #37 of 479 | 5 | 0.4 | $23.3M | 170 | 6 |
| Laundromats | 73 | #124 of 785 | 15 | 1.1 | $19.3M | 155 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 73 | #178 of 1,771 | 119 | 8.4 | $1.9M | 113 | 207 |
| Gas stations | 73 | #323 of 2,358 | 122 | 8.6 | $3M | 126 | 95 |
| Insurance agencies | 72 | #419 of 2,272 | 175 | 12.3 | $1.8M | 142 | 90 |
| Car washes and detailing | 71 | #209 of 1,451 | 40 | 2.8 | $2.9M | 116 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 71 | #264 of 1,485 | 51 | 3.6 | $2.7M | 101 | 44 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 70 | #124 of 887 | 40 | 2.8 | Index only | 146 | 19 |
| Funeral homes | 70 | #237 of 1,472 | 20 | 1.4 | $758K | 112 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | 69 | #64 of 415 | 6 | 0.4 | Index only | 145 | 9 |
| House cleaning | 68 | #125 of 847 | 31 | 2.2 | $7.3M | 114 | 94 |
| Auto repair and car care | 68 | #432 of 2,401 | 366 | 25.8 | $319K | 119 | 141 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 67 | #283 of 1,327 | 32 | 2.3 | $3.6M | 118 | 26 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 66 | #413 of 2,063 | 143 | 10.1 | $4.1M | 110 | 74 |
| Auto repair shops | 66 | #497 of 2,378 | 223 | 15.7 | $523K | 118 | 98 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 65 | #402 of 1,889 | 131 | 9.2 | $4.5M | 107 | 81 |
| Barbershops | 63 | #397 of 1,356 | 90 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 81 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 63 | #625 of 2,222 | 192 | 13.5 | $3M | 100 | 292 |
| Spas and skin care | 62 | #460 of 1,769 | 135 | 9.5 | $1M | 116 | 29 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 60 | #778 of 2,405 | 1,493 | 105.3 | $391K | 105 | 641 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #436 of 1,328 | 90 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 91 | 22 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 59 | #791 of 2,405 | 836 | 58.9 | $697K | 105 | 269 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 58 | #480 of 1,302 | 61 | 4.3 | $2.8M | 89 | 22 |
| Dry cleaners | 57 | #194 of 507 | 17 | 1.2 | $17.1M | 109 | 18 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 57 | #798 of 2,087 | 214 | 15.1 | $1.4M | 107 | 121 |
| Gyms | 56 | #697 of 1,792 | 108 | 7.6 | $1.1M | 86 | 50 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 56 | #879 of 2,210 | 281 | 19.8 | $1M | 117 | 150 |
| Property management | 54 | #379 of 910 | 40 | 2.8 | Index only | 103 | 88 |
| Tire shops | 54 | #682 of 1,530 | 51 | 3.6 | $2.3M | 91 | 23 |
| Child care and preschools | 53 | #756 of 1,611 | 97 | 6.8 | $779K | 78 | 106 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 53 | #758 of 1,656 | 124 | 8.7 | $1.4M | 77 | 155 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #1,033 of 2,339 | 350 | 24.7 | $393K | 91 | 81 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 51 | #638 of 1,334 | 63 | 4.4 | $1.9M | 95 | 63 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 51 | #1,006 of 2,176 | 332 | 23.4 | Index only | 126 | 189 |
| Real estate | 50 | #1,095 of 2,229 | 418 | 29.5 | Index only | 126 | 320 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 49 | #168 of 325 | 9 | 0.6 | $18.9M | 77 | 13 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #1,237 of 2,385 | 677 | 47.7 | $203K | 95 | 140 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,314 of 2,088 | 219 | 15.4 | $554K | 84 | 113 |
| Physical therapy | 43 | #916 of 1,422 | 158 | 11.1 | $1.1M | 45 | 47 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 42 | #537 of 777 | 48 | 3.4 | $2.5M | 62 | 50 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 40 | #1,294 of 1,886 | 187 | 13.2 | $909K | 92 | 141 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 38 | #1,793 of 2,394 | 1,973 | 139.1 | $86K | 56 | 405 |
Household spending in Durham County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $116.6M | $822 | 86 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $365.3M | $2,575 | 99 |
| Food away from home | $583.1M | $4,111 | 101 |
| Groceries | $897.1M | $6,324 | 100 |
| Personal care products and services | $137.4M | $969 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $75.6M | $533 | 92 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $121.2M | $855 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $169.9M | $1,198 | 93 |
| Pets | $139.8M | $986 | 108 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $290M | $2,044 | 99 |
| Vehicle insurance | $310.9M | $2,192 | 112 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $441.6M | $3,113 | 103 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $225.9M | $1,593 | 113 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.3B | $16,092 | 97 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Durham County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 347,240+7.7% since 2020
- Households
- 141,847
- Median age
- 38.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 56%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 288 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,156
- Median household income
- $82,316+35.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $114,501
- Median home value
- $389,400
- Jobs located here
- 257,395
- Daytime population
- 437,816Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Durham County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Durham County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Orange County, NC149,678 people
- Wake County, NC1,178,653 people
- Granville County, NC60,877 people
- Chatham County, NC80,151 people
- Person County, NC39,542 people
- Alamance County, NC176,893 people
- Franklin County, NC74,386 people
- Vance County, NC42,322 people
Questions
How fast is Durham County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Durham County at 347,240 people in 2025, up 7.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 141,847 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 35.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in Durham County, NC spend?
Households in Durham County spend about $2.3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $897.1M on groceries and $583.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Durham County runs highest on lawn care, cleaning and other household services (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (86).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Durham County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Durham County, roofing and gutter companies (87), HVAC and plumbing companies (87) and home repair companies (83) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For roofing and gutter companies, that ranks #9 of 1,177 scored counties.
How does Durham County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Durham County is $82,316, 2% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 7.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $389,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for physical therapy clinics (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for pet stores (50% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Durham County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Durham County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Durham County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Durham County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.