10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Durham, NC

 

Learn More About Assisted Living in Durham, NC

 

Part of central North Carolina’s “Research Triangle,” Durham is more than a college town — the city’s diverse history reverberates throughout its many museums, parks, and revitalized shopping districts.

In Durham, assisted living communities provide personal care services in settings typically ranging from private apartments to shared rooms, often with restaurant-style dining and activities based on residents’ interests. Designed to promote independence among seniors who don’t require 24-hour skilled nursing care, assisted living is a good option for retirees who need help with some daily tasks and would like to live a socially fulfilling, active lifestyle.

Cost of Assisted Living in Durham, NC

The median monthly cost of assisted living in Durham is about $5,300 in the city proper and $5,500 within the metropolitan area. The median monthly cost of assisted living in the state of North Carolina is around $4,600.

 

Learn More About Durham, NC

 

Cost of Living

 

The total household expenses associated with living in Durham are rated 12 points below the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated below the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Grocery	Clothing
88	84	91	87	89	94

 

Income and Housing

Median income age 45-64	Median income age 65+	Median household income	Average individual income	Median employee salary	Average property tax	One-bedroom apartment gross rent estimate
$65,493 per year	$45,584 per year	$54,390 per year	$31,352 per year	$46,035 per year	$2,973 per year	$834 per month

 

 

Local Hospitals

 

The top hospitals that service Durham include:

Duke Regional Hospital

• Facility type: governmental, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 350+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, joint replacement

Duke University Hospital

• Facility type: nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 970+
• Specialties: emergency department, inpatient surgery, ICU

 

 

Weather and Climate

 

Durham has a humid subtropical climate, meaning the city has four distinct seasons. Summers tend to be hot and humid, and thunderstorms are common. During winter, temperatures are usually cool but not extremely cold, and abundant snowfall is rare. Durham’s average humidity level is 67%, and humidity levels are often highest during September at about 73%.

 

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
39°F	49°F	28°F

 

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
79°F	89°F	70°F

 

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 81

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average Annual Precipitation: 48″

 

 

Demographics and Values

 

Population Statistics

Median age	Percent of population over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
35.4	11.3%	265,200	2,384.1 per square mile	2.4

 

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.3%	5.3%	39.3%	14.1%	<0.1%	2.9%	38.9%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Durham: 0/30
• Overall inclusivity: 69/100

 

2016 Presidential Election Results for Durham County

Democratic	Republican	Other
78.9%	18.5%	2.6%

 

 

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

 

Part of central North Carolina’s “Research Triangle,” Durham stays vibrant thanks to the two major universities that influence much of the city’s modern culture and economy. But this is more than a college town — Durham’s role in the early civil rights movement, along with its roots in the tobacco industry, are reflected throughout the city’s museums, parks, and sports teams.

The American Tobacco Historic, a former tobacco factory complex converted into restaurants and event venues, helps anchor the city’s revitalized downtown area, along with the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls Athletic Park for baseball. Only a few blocks away, the dining spots and boutique shops in the repurposed tobacco warehouses of Brightleaf Square are a go-to destination for both locals and tourists. Other downtown highlights are the Museum of Durham History — where you can learn about the Hayti neighborhood and other examples of African American prosperity in Durham — and the Carolina Theatre, which hosts concerts and film festivals throughout the year. The area around the campus of Duke University, a couple miles west of downtown, includes the Nasher Museum of Art and the gorgeous Sarah P. Duke Gardens, a 55-acre park with walking paths weaving throughout manicured lawns, pristine flower beds, wooded areas, and a large koi pond.

If you’re looking for outdoor excursions and activities, you’ll have plenty of options around Durham. Eno River State Park features hiking trails, campgrounds, and opportunities for fishing and canoeing. West Point on the Eno is a riverside park with trails and an amphitheater, as well as a historical center with well-preserved structures like an 1800s mill and farm house now open to the public. Running more than 20 miles along an abandoned railroad track through the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, the American Tobacco Trail provides a paved trail open to walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers, and wheelchair users. The Museum of Life and Science, with interactive exhibits both inside and outside, attracts curious visitors of all ages.

 

Transportation

Transportation in Durham is available via the city’s public transit system GoDurham, which provides bus routes with stops throughout the city. GoDurham offers free service for seniors along with ACCESS, a paratransit program for accessible, door-to-door transportation. GoTriangle is the public transportation service for the Research Triangle region encompassing Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Cary. Operated by Amtrak, the Carolinean is a commuter train running between Charlotte and New York with a stop in downtown Durham.