If you’re looking for a new place to call home, why not consider moving to Durham, NC? The apartments in Durham offer a great deal of amenities at different price points, which makes living here easy and affordable. One of the best things about living in Durham is the variety of neighborhoods you can choose from. Whether you want to live near Downtown, Northeast, Southeast or the Southside, there are plenty of options for rooms for rent in Durham, NC, close to Duke University’s campus.

Finding an apartment is difficult, whether it’s your first move or your fifth! Which neighborhood should you choose? What amenities should you expect? How much should you pay? What are some other considerations when looking for an apartment in Durham? Ready to start looking? Read on to find out everything you need to know about finding rooms to rent in Durham, NC. And when you’re looking for rooms for rent in Durham, be sure to keep this guide handy!

Where is Durham?

Durham, popularly known as the “Bull City,” is the county seat of Durham County in North Carolina in the United States. Small swathes of the city’s boundaries stretch into Orange and Wake counties. The city is situated along the Eno River in the Piedmont area’s east-central section. Durham is the hub of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area, which spans four counties.

Related: Find Rooms For Rent In Raleigh

Find Rooms for Rent in Durham

Average Rent in Durham

The low cost of living, including the lower than average rents, attract a lot of people to move to Durham. The average monthly rent in Durham is $1,307, which is an 8% increase compared to the previous year. According to Duke, the cost of living in Durham is about 23% lower than the national average. It’s not only housing that’s cheaper in Durham, but other main expenses too. Compared to urban areas like Washington or New York, food is significantly cheaper. Here is a list detailing the average rent in Durham by the number of rooms:

Rooms for rent in DurhamAverage Rent
1 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Durham$663
2 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Durham$1,438
3 Bedroom Apartment For Rent In Durham$1,887

Is Durham safe?

According to Niche surveys, 56% of respondents felt somewhat safe in Durham and that crimes had little influence on them, while 26% felt extremely safe and that there was no crime there at all. This is a crucial element to consider while looking for rooms for rent in Durham since the first thing you want to know about a new location is whether or not it is safe and welcoming.

The mission statement of the Durham Police Department is, “Durham Police Department works together with the community to minimize crime, promote safety, and enhance the quality of life in our city”. With many other services on their official website, they also have a platform where the residents can write commendations and lodge complaints.

Are you looking for information about criminal events, arrests, or service calls? Here’s a one-stop-shop for record-level crime data on the internet. Records are kept from 2006 to the present and are updated on a yearly basis.

Public Transit in Durham

Since 2010, the average American commute has got longer with each passing year. Durham’s average one-way commute is 22.5 minutes. That is below the American average of 26.4 minutes for a one-way commute. You can even look for rooms for rent in Durham on foot.

Walkability

According to walkscore, Durham is a walker’s paradise because your daily errands do not require a car. This city has a walkscore of 90 out of 100.

Road and Traffic

Durham has strong connections and good road conditions, which means there isn’t much traffic outside of rush hour. Here’s a live map of the roads and traffic conditions in Durham for you to refer to when you’re looking for rooms for rent in Durham, NC.

Nearby Bus Station

GoDurham, formerly Durham Area Transit Authority, is the public transit system serving Durham. It was rebranded under the consolidated GoTransit branding scheme for the Research Triangle region. You can use this website to find a route to your destinations and bus stations.

Nearby Train Station

There is Amtrack train station in Durham, connecting it to other leading cities. The directions to the station are here. Plus, the schedules and the train details you need to help you plan your trips can be found on this website.

Restaurants in Durham

Durham is home to a diverse range of restaurants and places to eat, which all cater to different tastes. The city has attracted world-renowned chefs in recent years, bringing the little southern city several coveted James Beard awards (the Oscars of food) and delighting the tastebuds of the locals.

Whether you’re looking for seafood from 2020 nominee Ricky Moore at Saltbox Seafood Joint, award-winning Andrea Reusing’s locally sourced and sustainably produced food at The Durham, or a fusion of Spanish and southern tapas at Mateo from 4-time James Beard semifinalist Matt Kelly (to name a few), Durham has a wide variety of places to eat that attract a lot of foodies.

Parks in Durham

Durham is a naturalist’s paradise. You’ll find green lush patches of forests, even while taking a small walk or looking for rooms for rent in Durham.

Surrounded by parks, gardens, and protected woods, it’s simple to get away from the rush and bustle of city life and breathe in some fresh air. The American Tobacco Trail, a 22-mile abandoned railroad route that was turned into a paved greenway for walkers, cyclists, and runners, lies right in the city’s backyard.

Check out Duke Forest, if 22 miles of trail isn’t enough for you. Much of the woodland in the surrounding areas is managed by the university for research, teaching, and leisure. You’ll find yourself at Duke Forest about 10 minutes outside of downtown. Local hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and even horseback riders may enjoy the forest’s pathways.

Perhaps all you want to do is get out and smell the roses. Duke Gardensapproximately 400,000 people each year from all over the world, and admission to their 55-acre botanic park is free. Living in Durham is tempting to people who seek the best of both worlds since it is so easy to get from the city back into nature.

Culture of Durham

If you’re visiting or looking for rooms for rent in Durham, you’ll notice how much the city loves the arts. Here are only a few examples of the city’s cultural offerings:

DPAC – the Durham Performing Arts Center hosts Broadway shows, concerts, and even stand-up comedians in downtown Durham. DPAC is consistently ranked in the top ten theaters in the United States, with over half a million visitors each year. With over 200 annual performances, it certainly has something for everyone.

Moogfest – a music event that takes place every year in downtown Durham. People go from all around the world to celebrate the confluence of music and technology for four days. Ticket holders may attend talks that bridge the gap between engineering and creativity, as well as see cutting-edge performances by early pioneers in electronic music.

Third Friday – every third Friday of the month, the city of Durham conducts an art walk and gallery crawl, bringing locals and visitors together to browse for art in a bustling environment. Third Friday is a free event during which art is presented in various locations across the city. As a result, visitors have the opportunity to connect with both art and local businesses.

Nasher Art Museum – visit the ground-breaking collection of modern art that includes African art, European medieval art, classical antiquities, and Native American art.

Durham offers a wide range of activities and experiences, including museums, festivals, art galleries, and theater. There is never a dull night when you want to live in or look for rooms for rent in Durham. You can always go out into the bustling streets of Durham and find something exciting to do.

Did you know what else Roomi does outside of helping its readers find rooms for rent in Durham? With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match!