United States / North America
Scores below are GCI modelled/editorial indicators, not official city statistics. Durham is a city in North Carolina's Research Triangle anchored by Duke University and the Research Triangle Park, with access to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Durham is a north america city of about ~650K metro in United States. On the composite city-intelligence score, Durham sits below the indexed median, with practical gaps to close (63/100).
GCI scores and planning amounts are modelled or editorial indicators, not measured city statistics or official estimates. Country assumptions are not local observations. Institutional references explain context; they do not supply these scores.
Durham's legacy safety module indicator is 61/100. The separate quality-of-life safety composite is 76/100, calculated from low-crime (32%), personal safety (30%), night safety (20%) and road safety (18%) model components. The personal-safety component is 78/100. These are different indicators, not conflicting observations of one statistic. None measures an individual's risk or replaces current local safety guidance.
Source-backed temperature context is available in the NASA POWER climate reference. It is gridded reanalysis, not a weather-station measurement, and does not validate GCI's other scores.
Content and provenance reviewed 2026-10-17; this is not a new observation date. For GCI models, data year means model edition, not a measurement period. Source-backed datasets state their own periods. Read the data categories and limitations.
8 of 8 published intelligence dimensions. Positions compare Durham with other indexed cities in United States.
Strongest in United States
Trade-offs in United States
Where a position is shown, it compares Durham with the other indexed cities in United States — using the data currently published on this site, not any external benchmark. Cities whose indicators are still pending integration are excluded from those comparisons entirely, and no position is shown for a country with fewer than 10 comparable cities. Where too many cities share the same published value to separate them honestly, the card says “Typical for this country” instead of a stronger claim, and positions describe rank order rather than a fixed percentage.
Cities with comparable characteristics based on the indicators currently published by Global City Intelligence.
Cities that stay broadly comparable to Durham while improving one named indicator. Each result states what it gains and what it gives up.
Choose an indicator to see alternatives.
Recommendations use the indicators currently published on this site — they are not external rankings. Each indicator is scaled to a common range before cities are compared, so no single measure dominates because of its units, and only cities with a complete set of published indicators take part. Cities whose data is still pending integration are excluded entirely. An alternative must stay broadly comparable to Durham and improve the indicator you chose by a margin large enough to be meaningful rather than rounding noise; where it gives something up in exchange, that is stated on the card.
Image credit: Image: Discover Durham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Composite profile
63/100
Use the Durham profile to compare affordability, air quality, and energy dimensions alongside regional peers such as raleigh, charlotte, and greensboro.
63/100
Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.
Directional
Directional indicators pending integration of verified city-level data.
See country hub
Emergency, healthcare, and transport verification status appears on the country hub.
The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 63/100 | Composite score across major city intelligence modules. |
| Cost of Living | 55/100 | Durham's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies. |
| Air Quality | 62/100 | Durham's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated. |
| Energy | 60/100 | Durham's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context. |
| Safety | 61/100 | Durham's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available. |
| Internet Speed | 62/100 | Durham's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references. |
| Climate Risk | 58/100 | Durham's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity. |
| Resilience | 58/100 | Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context. |
Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.
Durham is estimated to be a generally safe city (76/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.
A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.
Durham has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.
How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.
Durham scores very high for family living (81/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.
Durham is high for remote workers (70/100), based on connectivity, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.
Durham is high for retirement (78/100), appealing for healthcare access, a comfortable climate and a clean environment.
Local public safety guidance for Durham, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Universal emergency | 91124/7 | 911 reaches police, fire, and emergency medical dispatch across the United States. |
For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Durham, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the United States emergency profile.
Each emergency contact above is attributed to an official emergency service or government publisher. Confirm current numbers directly with these sources.
Used as the primary attribution for the United States 911 universal emergency number.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.
Healthcare context for Durham, with national-level information from United States where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.
For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Durham, see the United States healthcare profile.
Official hospital registry
Federal directory for comparing Medicare-certified hospitals, nursing homes, and other care providers.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Each entry above is attributed to an official government, public health, or recognised health-system publisher. Confirm current information directly with these sources.
Used as the primary federal attribution for United States public-health context.
Used as the official United States hospital registry reference for verified facility lookups.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.
Local mobility context for Durham, with national-level context from United States where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.
For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Durham, see the United States transport profile.
Each entry above is attributed to an official transport authority, national operator, airport publisher, or government source. Confirm current information directly with these publishers.
Used as the primary federal attribution for United States national transport context.
Used as the primary attribution for United States aviation authority information.
Used as the primary attribution for United States rail authority information.
Last verified: 2026-05-16
Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.
Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Durham. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.
Source-attributed values for Durham will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.
| Metric | Value | Data year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location. | ||
Global City Intelligence — air-quality dataset
Verified data unavailableThe air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).
Numeric measurements appear in this section only after they are sourced from accepted official publishers. The dataset is independently validated at build time; malformed records cannot ship to production.
Planning answers about Durham based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records. They are not official assessments; verify practical decisions with local primary sources.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Yes — excellent quality of life (83/100), with nearby nature such as Eno River State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Excellent (81/100) on safety, schools and green space.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Around average cost; about $1,940/month for one person (estimate).
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jul, coldest in Jan.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Mainly technology, aerospace, research.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: A humid subtropical climate, averaging about 19.3°C.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Higher education is strong (74/100).
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Healthcare access is good (63/100).
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Retirement suitability is strong (68/100).
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Within ~170 km: Eno River State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area.
City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.
Durham's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.
Durham's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated.
Durham's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.
Durham's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.
Durham's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.
Durham's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.
Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.
Cost of living estimates for Durham — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.
Climate profile for Durham — Humid Subtropical climate, annual average 19.3°C, comfort score 83/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.
Economy and jobs profile for Durham — regional center, economy score 84/100, key industries including technology, aerospace, research. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.
Education profile for Durham — regional education center, education score 72/100, 4 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.
Healthcare and retirement profile for Durham — regional healthcare center, healthcare score 63/100, retirement score 68/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.
Source-attributed visual context for Durham using verified Wikimedia imagery from the existing media catalog, alongside structured city intelligence and planning links. Not a tourism guide or attractions ranking.
Weekend trip planning checklist for Durham — links into arrival planning, Summer 2026 travel context, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not an itinerary, events calendar, hotel-price guide, restaurant guide, or tourism ranking.
Source-backed nearby place records for local-first weekend planning, with verification status, official source links, Wikidata identity, and visual context.
Estimate a monthly budget for Durham using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.
Plan a trip budget for Durham using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.
Booking sites for flights, tours, tickets and mobile data for Durham. What each one offers here is decided by that site, not by GCI.
Partner links. If you book after following one, Global City Intelligence may earn a commission from that site, at no extra cost to you. GCI does not check prices or availability. How partner links work
Aviasales
Raleigh is about 35 km from Durham and is the closest city in the United States that Aviasales searches flights to.
Klook
Search Klook for guided tours, day trips and experiences in and around Durham.
Tiqets
Search Tiqets for museum, attraction and timed-entry tickets in Durham.
Airalo
Prepaid eSIM data plans for the United States on Airalo, to install before you travel.
Durham across Global City Intelligence — comparisons, rankings, places and editorial coverage.
Global ranking pages. Linking to one says nothing about how Durham places in it.
17 indexed destinations within reach — 10 cities and 7 natural places — grouped by measured straight-line distance.
Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Durham. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.
Same region · about 26 km from Durham. Explore Cary's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 33 km from Durham. Explore Raleigh's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 81 km from Durham. Explore Greensboro's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 103 km from Durham. Explore Fayetteville's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 123 km from Durham. Explore Winston-Salem's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 170 km from Durham. Explore Roanoke's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 195 km from Durham. Explore Charlotte's city intelligence profile.
Same corridor · about 216 km from Durham. Explore Richmond's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 216 km from Durham. Explore Wilmington's city intelligence profile.
Same region · about 249 km from Durham. Explore Chesapeake's city intelligence profile.
Theme-first discovery collections that include Durham — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.
Waterfall Destinations · 23 places across 80 cities.
Hiking Areas · 50 places across 80 cities.
Lake Escapes · 50 places across 80 cities.
Mountain Escapes · 50 places across 80 cities.
River Valleys · 48 places across 80 cities.
Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Durham, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Eno River State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area and William B. Umstead State Park within weekend range.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 83/100 for overall quality of life.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: A single resident of Durham spends roughly $1,940 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near $1,030. Overall the city is around average cost for the United States. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Plan for around-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Durham is high for remote workers (70/100), based on connectivity, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham's labour market is very strong, with opportunities concentrated in technology, tourism and hospitality and manufacturing. Durham has a regional economy with strengths in technology, aerospace and research.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 85/100.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham is a regional education center with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Social Sciences, Mathematics and Medicine.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham offers a moderate student environment, supported by strong quality of life and good connectivity.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham has a regional healthcare center, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 63/100. Residents have strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 68/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham has a humid subtropical climate, averaging about 19.3°C annually with roughly 1199 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jul and the coldest Jan. The driest is typically Jan.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham is estimated to be a generally safe city (76/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham indexes a walkability score of 67 and a cycling score of 59 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Nature destinations within about 170 km of Durham include Eno River State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area and William B. Umstead State Park. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham scores very high for family living (81/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.
Planning context based on GCI modelled indicators and linked place records, not an official or measured assessment: Durham rates 59/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 91/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Eno River State Park, Falls Lake State Recreation Area and William B. Umstead State Park supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.
Use the Durham profile to compare affordability, air quality, and energy dimensions alongside regional peers such as raleigh, charlotte, and greensboro. Its standout dimensions are air quality (62/100) and internet speed (62/100). The area most worth watching is cost of living (55/100), where the model registers practical gaps. These comparisons describe GCI modelled indicators. Content reviewed 2026-10-17; model edition 2025, not an observation year. Institutional references are background, not sources for these scores.
Country context is available on the United States country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Durham appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.
Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.
These publications provide background context, not the underlying city values or an endorsement of GCI scores. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.
Background reference only. Do not attribute the modelled city scores to this publisher.
Background reference only. Do not attribute the modelled city scores to this publisher.
Background reference only. Do not attribute the modelled city scores to this publisher.
Background reference only. Do not attribute the modelled city scores to this publisher.