27603 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
27703
27603
Opportunity
66 · Top 28%
vs83 · Top 4%
Growth
71 · Top 15%
vs70 · Top 16%
Climate
72 · Top 43%
vs72 · Top 43%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 36%
vs72 · Top 33%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 48%
vs80 · Top 50%
Schools
12 · Bottom 3%
vs64 · Top 34%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs93 · Top 50%
Economic stability
69 · Top 33%
vs58 · Bottom 48%
Measured values
| Metric | 27703 | 27603 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 63,458 | 53,972 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,317 | $90,484 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $46,363 | $50,497 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,293/sq mi | 1,050/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $378,400 | $383,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,584 | $1,547 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.0% | 61.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.4% | 50.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 12.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,643 | 5,124 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 15.9 | 10.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 33.1% | -0.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 29.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.5 | 35.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 13 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.70 | 13.46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 14.5% | 37.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 26.0% | 51.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 99.2% | 60.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
27703
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
27603
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 27703 — Durham, NC · 27603 — Raleigh, NC · How this is calculated: methodology