Who moves to Durham, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Durham County, NC, home of Durham, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 22,124from other US counties
- Moved out
- 23,296to other US counties
- Net
- −1,172more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 150tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 4,950 |
| Orange County, NC | 2,046 |
| Alamance County, NC | 545 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 479 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 440 |
| Granville County, NC | 357 |
| Chatham County, NC | 260 |
| Cumberland County, NC (Fayetteville) | 231 |
| Forsyth County, NC (Winston-Salem) | 207 |
| New York County, NY | 190 |
| Person County, NC | 187 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 178 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 5,610 |
| Orange County, NC | 1,966 |
| Alamance County, NC | 1,326 |
| Granville County, NC | 598 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 565 |
| Chatham County, NC | 497 |
| Person County, NC | 457 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 428 |
| Johnston County, NC | 376 |
| Franklin County, NC | 255 |
| Harnett County, NC | 208 |
| New York County, NY | 199 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 11,808 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in North Carolina and 10,316 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 440 |
| New York County, NY | 190 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 178 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 174 |
| New Hanover County, NC (Wilmington) | 148 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL (Miami) | 148 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 148 |
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 132 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 565 |
| New York County, NY | 199 |
| New Hanover County, NC (Wilmington) | 183 |
| District of Columbia, DC (Washington) | 162 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 158 |
| Santa Clara County, CA (San Jose) | 139 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 137 |
| Middlesex County, MA (Cambridge) | 129 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Durham come from?
Most people moving into Durham County, NC come from nearby counties, led by Wake County, NC (4,950 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Mecklenburg County, NC.
Where do people leaving Durham move to?
The top destination is Wake County, NC (5,610 people). Farther away, the most popular is Mecklenburg County, NC.
Are more people moving to Durham or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 22,124 people moved into Durham County, NC from elsewhere in the US and 23,296 moved out, a net loss of 1,172 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Durham with any city it trades people with, like Durham vs Charlotte, Durham vs Los Angeles, Durham vs Chicago, Durham vs Wilmington.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Durham.