About Durham

Durham is a colorful, creative, and entrepreneurial community of 262,715 that welcomes 6.31 million visitors each year.

Durham occupies a prime location in the heart of North Carolina and is a nexus for learning, achievement, creativity, research, and industry.

Whether you're a resident, visitor, group planner, newcomer, journalist, or consultant, these official stats, facts, and images will provide new perspectives on Durham.

300+ Great Things About Durham

More than 300 reasons to visit, reside in and do business in Durham.

Overview, Facts, & History

Quick facts, community history, self guided Durham overview.

Research & Statistics

Demographics, research, local government performance indicators, RTP and RDU statistics.

Online Image Library

Searchable inventory of hundreds of high-res images of Durham for promotional use.

Durham Online Brand Center

Background information about using the Overarching "Durham, Where Great Things Happen" brand.

Durham Accolades

Superlatives and national rankings for Durham.

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• Durham Accolades

  Durham Metro Ranked Highest Nationally for Sexual Equality

  - US News & World Report
  2011 May

  Durham, NC MSA ranked highest paying in the South

  - Triangle Business Journal
  2011 May

  Durham, NC was listed as one of 20 Cities Surviving the Recession

  - Yahoo Finance
  2010 May

  The Durham, NC MSA was ranked #1 for the Best Mid-Sized Cities [sic] for Jobs.

  - Forbes
  2010 May

  Durham, NC was included as an Up-and Coming City as the city with the 3rd Biggest Increase in Wages.

  - Yahoo! Finance
  2010 September

  North Carolina Central University ranked #11 among America's Best Historically Black Colleges and remained the top public HBCU in the nation

  - U.S. News & World Report
  2010 August

  Duke University was named the #9 College That Brings the Highest Paycheck.

  - CNBC
  2010 December

  The Durham, NC MSA has the ninth highest projected creative class job growth in the country

  - The Atlantic Monthly
  2010 September

  Duke University Hospital was ranked #10 on the U.S. News & World Report's 2010-2011 America's Best Hospitals listing and was among 14 hospitals nationally to make the magazine's Best Hospitals National Honor Roll

  - U.S. News & World Report
  2010 July

  Durham came in at number 10 on the list of Top Recycling Communities.

  - Men's Health Magazine
  2010 October

  Durham is one of only four communities in the state selected as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People for its outstanding, innovative efforts that benefit children and youth.

  - America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth
  2010 September

  Durham, NC named the 4th most affordable city in America

  - NBC's Today Show
  2010 March

  Durham, NC ranked the #1 Place to Retire

  - Money Magazine
  2010 September

  The Durham, NC MSA was ranked the #7 Best Place for College Students to Live

  - American Institute for Economic Research
  2010 September

  Durham Bulls team of the decade

  - MiLB International League
  2010 January

  The Historic Durham Athletic Park is one of the 42nd Best Stadium to See Before you Die.

  - Complex.com
  2010 September

  DPAC Ranked Second Most Attended Theater Nationally

  - Pollstar
  2011 May

  Durham, NC was listed as one of "41 Places to Go in 2011."

  - New York Times
  2011 January

  more Durham Accolades >>

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Preview the 2011 Official Durham Visitors Guide

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