Real Estate Investing in Durham, North Carolina (27703)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Durham County • Population: 62,994 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27703 (Durham, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Durham, NC (27703)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $386,352
Avg Monthly Rent $1,868
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $82,056
% Renters 34.7%

Market Analysis: 27703 Durham

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Durham's 27703 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $386K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 27703 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $386K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 27703 and stronger Durham ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 27703 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Durham's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 27703. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Durham:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,868/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
61 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27703

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$108,226/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $247,487 $1,540 4.5% +6.3% $247,487
2BR $334,889 $1,750 3.8% +7.1% $167,445
3BR $365,992 $2,160 4.2% +7.7% $121,997
4BR $457,645 $2,550 4.0% +7.5% $114,411
5BR $541,132 +7.7% $108,226

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$434K$374K$314K$254K$194K$134KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,962$1,795$1,629$1,463$1,296$1,130Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27703 Compare?

Metric 27703 Durham Durham-Chapel Hill, NC North Carolina
Home Value $386,352 $318,265 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 3.9% 4.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,868 $1,760 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27703? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27703 (Durham, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $386,352
Monthly Rent $1,868
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27703

Population: 62,994

💰 Median Household Income
$82,056
This area
$82,056
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.7%
This area
34.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.3%
This area
43.3%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.4 years
This area
36.4 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 38.8%
White 38.6%
Other/Mixed 17.0%
Hispanic/Latino 13.3%
Asian 5.6%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.1%
This area
14.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 27703

B+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
13.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,175 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

R N Harris Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Y E Smith Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
265 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bethesda Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
577 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Oak Grove Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
448 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Spring Valley Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
544 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maureen Joy Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
634 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,422 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Durham's Performance Learning Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
122 Students
👨‍🏫
6.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Reaching All Minds Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,661 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Middle College HS @ DTCC

📚 11 – 12 High School
👥
134 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,352 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
B Good

The Institute Development Young Leaders

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
412 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,415 Per Student
B Good

Holton Career and Resource Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$17,524 Per Student
C+ Average

Research Triangle Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
727 Students
👨‍🏫
23.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,065 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 1,232 Off-Campus Students
C
Durham Technical Community College
4,354 students · 4.4 mi
C
Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College
32 students · 5.1 mi
C+
North Carolina Central University
7,965 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Elevate Salon Institute
85 students · 5.7 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Raleigh
133 students · 6.6 mi
A
Duke University
17,112 students · 7.9 mi
C
Watts College of Nursing
134 students · 8.9 mi
D
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill
171 students · 12.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,232 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Durham, NC rate as a rental market?

Durham, NC records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $386K and average rents around $1,868/mo. That combination puts it in the sturdy tier for investor interest.

What price range are homes in Durham, NC?

Expect median prices around $386K in Durham, NC. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

What are rental rates like in Durham, NC?

Expect rents around $1,868/mo per month in Durham, NC. With home values at $386K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is vacancy a concern in Durham, NC?

Vacancy in Durham, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,868/mo.

Does Durham, NC favor landlords or tenants?

NC law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Durham inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 27703 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27703 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 27703 ranks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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