Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Durham compared to Fayetteville? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Durham | Metric | Fayetteville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | Cost of Living Index | 84 | -19.2% |
| $360,000 | Median Home Price | $195,000 | -45.8% |
| $1,350 | Median Monthly Rent | $859 | -36.4% |
| $66,800 | Median Household Income | $49,800 | -25.4% |
| 0.8% | Property Tax Rate | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 3.2% | Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | +43.7% |
| 24 min | Average Commute | 24 min | +0.0% |
| 33.6 | Median Age | 30.2 | -10.1% |
| 340,000 | Metro Population | 520,000 | +52.9% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Durham costs $2,162/month (PITI) compared to $1,171/month in Fayetteville — a difference of $991/month or $11,892/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.4x in Durham versus 3.9x in Fayetteville, suggesting Fayetteville is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 7.2 years to save a down payment in Durham compared to 5.2 years in Fayetteville.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Durham | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $66,800 | $49,800 |
| State Income Tax | $2,297 | $1,575 |
| Federal Income Tax | $6,145 | $3,847 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,111 | $3,810 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,844/yr | $1,541/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Total Tax Burden | $13,553 (20.3%) | $9,232 (18.5%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $53,247 | $40,568 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $13,553 in Durham (20.3% effective) versus $9,232 in Fayetteville (18.5% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $53,247 in Durham and $40,568 in Fayetteville. Property taxes add $2,844/year on the median Durham home versus $1,541/year in Fayetteville.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $66,800 in Durham (COL 104) and relocate to Fayetteville (COL 84), you would need $53,954 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $12,846 and still maintain your lifestyle in Fayetteville.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Durham is 24 minutes versus 24 minutes in Fayetteville, a difference of 0 minutes each way. Durham's lower unemployment rate of 3.2% versus 4.6% suggests a stronger job market. Durham skews slightly older with a median age of 33.6 vs 30.2 in Fayetteville.
Durham is 19.2% more expensive than Fayetteville overall. Durham has a cost of living index of 104 compared to 84 for Fayetteville (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $360,000 in Durham vs $195,000 in Fayetteville.
The median home price in Durham is $360,000, which is $165,000 more than Fayetteville's median of $195,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,350/month in Durham vs $859/month in Fayetteville, a difference of $491/month or $5,892/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $66,800 salary in Durham is equivalent to $53,954 in Fayetteville. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Durham's COL index of 104 vs Fayetteville's 84. Conversely, $49,800 in Fayetteville equals $61,657 in Durham.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $13,553 (20.3% effective rate) in Durham vs $9,232 (18.5% effective rate) in Fayetteville. Property taxes on the median home are $2,844/year in Durham (0.8% rate) vs $1,541/year in Fayetteville (0.8% rate). Sales tax rates are 4.8% in North Carolina and 4.8% in North Carolina.
Durham median household income: $66,800/yr. Fayetteville median household income: $49,800/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,350 in Durham vs $859 in Fayetteville. Annualized that is $16,200 vs $10,308.
Fayetteville offers a lower cost of living (index 84 vs 104), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Durham typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Durham and Fayetteville numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Durham vs Fayetteville cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .