Rental Investing in Durham, NC
2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis
Gross Yield
5.5%
Annual rent / price
Median Home Price
$370,000
As of 2026-Q1
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Per month
Population
285,527
+1.9% / yr (5y avg)
Calculate Your Return in Durham
Pre-filled with Durham's median values. Adjust to match your specific property.
Property Details
Total acquisition cost before taxes
HOA, insurance, property management
% of time the property is empty
% of purchase price (e.g. 2% = 2)
Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr
Results
Gross Rental Yield
5.51%
Net Rental Yield
3.59%
Cap Rate
3.59%
Monthly Cash Flow
$1,106.67
Annual Cash Flow
$13,280.00
Market Overview
Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend
Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend
Durham provides solid rental yields of 5.5%, in line with healthy investment market benchmarks.
Strong population growth of 1.9% per year suggests increasing rental demand and a tightening supply-demand balance over time.
The vacancy rate of 4.7% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.
Investment Profile
Durham features strong population growth that may drive property values higher over time. Current rental yields are modest, so returns are more dependent on price appreciation than immediate rental income.
✓ Strengths
- •Population growth of 1.9% per year supports long-term demand
- •Appreciation potential may deliver strong total returns over time
- •Robust rental demand from growing workforce and population
! Risks
- •Gross yield of 5.5% provides limited current cash flow
- •Higher purchase prices require larger upfront capital
- •Returns more sensitive to market cycles and interest rates
Key Metrics
How Durham Compares
Durham vs Raleigh: 0.1 percentage point difference in gross yield.
| City | Median Price | Median Rent | Gross Yield | Pop. Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | $390,000 | $1,750 | 5.4% | +2.1% |
| Charlotte, NC | $370,000 | $1,700 | 5.5% | +1.4% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $320,000 | $1,600 | 6% | +0.2% |
| Richmond, VA | $310,000 | $1,550 | 6% | +0.7% |
| Atlanta, GA | $350,000 | $1,750 | 6% | +1.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rental investing profitable in Durham?▾
What is the average rental yield in Durham?▾
How does Durham compare to Raleigh for investors?▾
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Data source: Zillow Research / U.S. Census Bureau. Last updated: 2026-Q1. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.