Real Estate Investing in Durham, North Carolina (27701)

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

Durham County • Population: 24,881 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27701 (Durham, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (44/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 12.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Durham, NC (27701)?

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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 $427,836
Avg Monthly Rent $1,766
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,475
% Renters 70.4%

Market Analysis: 27701 Durham

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 27701 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $428K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $428K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 27701 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 27701 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 27701 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Durham averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 27701 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,766/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 27701

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$146,540/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $271,884 $1,480 3.9% +5.0% $271,884
2BR $345,366 $1,690 3.5% +5.9% $172,683
3BR $439,619 $2,110 3.5% +6.3% $146,540
4BR $700,833 $2,530 2.6% +7.6% $175,208
5BR $837,478 +8.3% $167,496

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$466K$392K$317K$243K$169K$95KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,814$1,674$1,535$1,395$1,255$1,116Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27701 Compare?

Metric 27701 Durham Durham-Chapel Hill, NC North Carolina
Home Value $427,836 $318,265 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 4.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,766 $1,760 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27701? Click to expand

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

70% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 27701 (Durham, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $427,836
Monthly Rent $1,766
Price-to-Rent 20.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 6.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
12.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27701

Population: 24,881

💰 Median Household Income
$61,475
This area
$61,475
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
70.4%
This area
70.4%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
49.5%
This area
49.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.9 years
This area
33.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.0%
This area
12.0%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 47.7%
Black/African American 35.1%
Other/Mixed 15.2%
Hispanic/Latino 11.7%
Asian 2.0%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
8.6%
This area
8.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.6%
This area
16.6%
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 27701

A Avg School Grade
8 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,713 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Eastway Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A+ Excellent

George Watts Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Burton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
294 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 Per Student
A Very Good

Global Scholars Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
202 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,145 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Central Park School For Children

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
609 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,934 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Durham Charter School

📚 K – 10 High School Charter
👥
777 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,140 Per Student
B+ Above Average

KIPP Durham College Preparatory

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,392 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Durham School of the Arts

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
1,767 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,524 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 1,489 Off-Campus Students
C+
Elevate Salon Institute
85 students · 0.4 mi
C
Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College
32 students · 0.8 mi
C+
North Carolina Central University
7,965 students · 1.7 mi
C
Durham Technical Community College
4,354 students · 1.9 mi
A
Duke University
17,112 students · 2.2 mi
C
Watts College of Nursing
134 students · 3.1 mi
D
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill
171 students · 8.7 mi
A
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
32,234 students · 10.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,489 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Durham, NC?

Investors in Durham, NC typically see rents near $1,766/mo per month against $428K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the renter demographic in Durham, NC?

Tenant quality in Durham, NC ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,766/mo.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Durham, NC?

Vacancy risk in Durham, NC is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

How much does a house cost in Durham, NC?

In Durham, NC the median home value sits at $428K. Against the broader NC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How does Durham, NC stack up for property investment?

Yes - Durham, NC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $428K home prices against $1,766/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

You know 27701 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27701 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 27701 ranks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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