Oxford is part of the Durham area. This page covers the whole metro.
How locals describe Durham
The words residents use most, from 77 comments on Reddit, City-Data and Quora. Bigger means more people said it. Tap a word to read what they said.
"Durham has a major lack of grocery stores. This map shows the walking time to the nearest grocery store."
"Durham doesn't really have a club scene, tbh, it's more like a handful of bars with a dance floor and live music or a dj."
Big-city feel, Outdoorsy, Lively
Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Durham scores 70 or higher out of 100.
A walk through Durham
Places residents talk about, in their words. Each photo is of the place named.
Look around Durham
Google Street View near the center of town, taken 2025-09. Drag to turn, click the street to move.
Open in Google MapsPhotos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
What Durham is known for
Every year
JunBeaver Queen Pageant: Fundraiser with beaver themed costumes and family fundiscoverdurham.com
On a normal week
Walking or running the American Tobacco Trailspotlightnc.com
Visiting Durham Central Parkthetriangleweekender.com
Watching a Durham Bulls baseball gameen.wikipedia.org
Shopping and dining at Brightleaf Squareen.wikipedia.org
Around Durham
Take a tour of Durham
"Walking Tour of Downtown Durham North Carolina" by Living in Raleigh NC (THE ORIGINAL), on YouTube. Not made by Varro.
A person who moved from New York found it hard to find a job despite veterinary experience.
“I just moved here from New York and I’ve been finding it pretty hard to find a job. I have almost 4 years experience in veterinary medicine but I don’t...”
Read the full commentPosted May 2024One resident listed Kingfisher, Arcana, Boxcar, Aperitif, and Bittersweet as nightlife options in Durham.
“Kingfisher, Arcana. Durham and Raleigh both have boxcar. For drinks and dessert, there's Aperitif I'm Durham and Bittersweet. Velvet Hippo in...”
Read the full commentPosted March 2024A resident who has lived in Durham over a year described it as a special place to call home.
“Hi! Let me start off by saying that I love my home here in the city and county of Durham! Been here for a little over a year! This place is special in...”
Read the full commentPosted June 2025One resident calls the dating scene in Durham notoriously rough and advises not to force it while continuing with dating apps.
“The dating scene in Durham is notoriously rough. Honestly my advice that's not advice is to not force it. Continue with the dating apps but also...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2024“it's easily the best city in the Triangle”
“In Durham, it's Joe Van Gogh, Cocoa Cinnamon, or Bean Traders. The service at Bean Traders is top notch.”
One resident said the Mountains to Sea Trail runs through Durham county and is easy and well marked, recommending the Eno State parks.
“Hiking there is easy and well marked. You can't go wrong with any of the Eno State parks.”
Posted Jan. 2026A resident who has lived in Durham over a year described it as a special place to call home.
“Hi! Let me start off by saying that I love my home here in the city and county of Durham! Been here for a little over a year!”
Posted June 2025One resident suggested Vergile for food and drinks and Hi-Wire for brewing as weekend spots.
“Vergile for good food and drinks, Hi-Wire brewing also.”
Posted June 2024From 7 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident gave special mention to Motorco Music Hall and the Haw River Ballroom, noting the latter is a cool but out of the way venue.
“Special mention Motorco Music hall in Durham (Better Pour House) and Haw River Ball room (really cool venue but out of the way). Pour House is...”
Read the full commentPosted July 2026One resident recommended Hopscotch Music Festival, Saturdays in Saxapahaw, Carrboro Music Festival, and Fridays on the Front Porch at Carolina Inn.
“I recommend hopscotch music festival in Raleigh, Saturdays in saxapahaw, carrboro music festival, fridays on the front porch (Carolina inn),...”
Read the full commentPosted July 2026One resident said you can hear live music every night of the week at venues like The Pinhook, MotorCo, The Cave, Local 506, and Cat's Cradle.
“Pinhook, MotorCo, can hear live music every night of the week at The Cave, Local 506, Cats Cradle. Motorco hosts a lot of bands, along with DJs...”
Read the full commentPosted Jan. 2026One resident found joining hiking meetups and a book club meetup to be the best way to meet people in Durham.
“A subreddit for the city and county of Durham, North Carolina. Best thing I did was join a couple hiking meetups. MeetUp for book club, dinner...”
Read the full commentPosted April 2025One resident has played pickup in Durham for five years and describes it as an awesome and friendly group of people.
“I've been playing pickup here in Durham intermittently for the last 5 years and it is an awesome and friendly group of people. Folks often go...”
Read the full commentPosted June 2023. Things may have changed since.One resident calls the dating scene in Durham notoriously rough and advises not to force it while continuing with dating apps.
“The dating scene in Durham is notoriously rough. Honestly my advice that's not advice is to not force it. Continue with the dating apps but also...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2024Durham does not really have a club scene, more a handful of bars with dance floors or live music.
“Durham doesn't really have a club scene, tbh, it's more like a handful of bars with a dance floor and live music or a dj.”
Read the full commentPosted March 2025One resident listed Kingfisher, Arcana, Boxcar, Aperitif, and Bittersweet as nightlife options in Durham.
“Kingfisher, Arcana. Durham and Raleigh both have boxcar. For drinks and dessert, there's Aperitif I'm Durham and Bittersweet. Velvet Hippo in...”
Read the full commentPosted March 2024One resident suggested Vergile for food and drinks and Hi-Wire for brewing as weekend spots.
“Bars and places downtown Durham to meet people on the weekends. Vergile for good food and drinks, Hi-Wire brewing also. Hi-Wire does really...”
Read the full commentPosted June 2024One resident describes 106 Main as a great dive bar with excellent drink specials and low prices
“106 Main is a straight up dive, and I absolutely love it. Well drink specials, beer only in bottles/cans, price is amazing. Alley26 and Durham...”
Read the full commentPosted Oct. 2021. Things may have changed since.One resident describes Durham as a lovely small city with a great community feeling, mentioning the farmers market and local entertainment spots.
“Durham is a lovely small city with a great community feeling. The farmers market, karaoke at Pinhook, shows at DPAC or the Carolina Theater,...”
Read the full commentPosted May 2024Recent stories from local outlets. Tap a headline to read it.
About 1,755 business locations in the Durham area, employing about 58,889 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
A couple who moved to Durham struggled after one partner was affected by tech layoffs and remained unemployed.
“My husband and I moved to Durham last year. He got caught up in tech layoffs last year and has yet to find anything full time.”
Read the full commentPosted July 2025One resident got a full time remote job with an organization based in Asheville while living in Durham.
“Hey good people! Just got a FT job with a great organization based in Asheville, and I'll be working remotely from Durham. My employer offered that if...”
Read the full commentPosted April 2025One newcomer said they are still looking for full-time employment a week after moving to Durham.
“I just moved to Durham last week and am still looking for full-time employment. I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and English...”
Read the full commentPosted Nov. 2022. Things may have changed since.Pick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
One resident noted it would be 91 degrees on October 1st with a feels like temperature over 95, continuing a trend of above normal fall temperatures.
“It's going to be 91 degrees here on October 1st and the feel like temperature will be over 95. The past 3 years have been above normal temps for...”
Read the full commentPosted Sept. 2026Daily October weather in Durham alternates between clear skies, broken clouds, and occasional thunderstorms with highs in the 60s and 70s.
Around Durham
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the Durham area.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of the Durham area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
Buses and trains
Health care
Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Duke University Hospital in Durham, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
Costs of moving here
What rent costs
Of about 89,314 rented homes in the Durham area, 87% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in the Durham area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.
Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Moving to North Carolina: before and after
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the North Carolina DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: North Carolina voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Schools and childcare
Schools
One public school district serves this county, with about 31,531 students. The county also has 16 public charter schools and 25 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.
Closest public schools to the center of Durham
Straight-line miles from the center of Durham, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on North Carolina's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.
Public school districts in the county
School choice and pre-K in North Carolina
School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).
Special education in North Carolina
Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).
What residents say about schools
"private schools (Duke School and Durham Academy) here are also good."reddit.com · Posted Oct. 2023
One resident's view each, in their own words. Experiences differ by school, grade and family.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
North Carolina keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $317/week about $16,500 a year | $228/week about $11,900 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $239/week about $12,400 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $188/week about $9,800 a year | $191/week about $9,900 a year |
| School-age | $102/week about $5,300 a year |
For an infant at a center: $317/week here, $220 across NC, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 17% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
6 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Durham. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.
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