About 31% of Durham County residents are financially strained by housing and other basic costs, according to new data cited by city leaders. That pressure is rising as Durham adds more housing but still falls short on affordability.
Mayor Leonardo Williams said Durham cannot control how quickly people move here, but said the city needs more housing "at every single level." He pointed to a planned $160M housing investment as part of the city's response.
For people trying to buy, the market is still moving fast. Homes in Durham sold in about 20 days in October 2025, with a median sale price of $448,000.
- Developers are continuing to target major Durham sites, including the former Northgate Mall property and land near Southpoint along Massey Chapel Road.
- Longtime resident Diane Bullock said she has seen houses and apartments going up across Durham as rents and home prices keep climbing.
- More supply alone has not closed the affordability gap for many residents, especially as new development is concentrated in higher-cost projects.
What's next: Durham has multiple housing projects in the pipeline, but the central test is whether those plans add homes people can actually afford. For now, the city is growing faster than housing costs are easing.