Durham County, North Carolina: What It Costs to Buy a Home
The median home in Durham County is worth $351,700, property taxes on it run about $2,951 a year (0.84%), the FHA loan limit is $634,800, and closing on it means about $704 in transfer tax plus $854 in title insurance. Each number below opens its own page with the source and a calculator.
| Median home value | $351,700 | Title insurance at this price → |
|---|---|---|
| Property taxes (median paid) | $2,951 a year, 0.84% of value | Property tax page → |
| FHA loan limit (1 unit) | $634,800 | Loan limits page → |
| Conforming loan limit (1 unit) | $832,750 | Loan limits page → |
| Transfer tax on the median home | $704 | North Carolina transfer tax page → |
| Title insurance on the median home | $825 owner's + $29 lender's | Title insurance page → |
| Recording fees (deed + mortgage) | $90 | Recording fees page → |
| Closing costs from these items | $1,648 | Closing costs page → |
| Area median income (HUD, family of 4) | $129,900; low-income limit $101,700 | Income limits page → |
Frequently asked questions
How much do homes cost in Durham County?
The median owner-occupied home in Durham County is valued at $351,700, per U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units).
How much are property taxes in Durham County?
The median Durham County homeowner pays $2,951 a year in real estate taxes, about 0.84% of the median home value ($2,939 for homes with a mortgage), per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
What is the FHA loan limit in Durham County?
$634,800 for a one-unit home in 2026 (a high-cost limit above the national floor), per HUD; the conforming limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is $832,750, per FHFA.
What does it cost to close on a home in Durham County?
On the $351,700 median home: transfer tax $704, title insurance $854 for both policies, recording fees about $90, about $1,648 for those items before lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance.
What is the area median income in Durham County?
HUD's FY 2026 median family income for Durham County (Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area) is $129,900. A family of four counts as low income below $101,700 under HUD's 80% tier (adjusted for local housing costs, so it can sit above 80% of the median), which is the line many first-time buyer assistance programs use.
Nearby North Carolina counties
- Davidson County $200,100
- Davie County $235,300
- Duplin County $123,200
- Edgecombe County $116,800
- Forsyth County $227,800
- Franklin County $240,900
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied housing units)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 five-year estimates, table B25103 (median real estate taxes paid)
- HUD, FHA forward mortgage loan limits for calendar year 2026 (CHUMS county limits file, Mortgagee Letter 2025-23)
- FHFA, conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired in calendar year 2026, by county
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are medians and schedule computations, not quotes.
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