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Retirement Living In Durham - North Carolina


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Area Description

A unique mix of rich history, pioneering achievements, and diverse culture – that's what makes Durham the kind of place that is always engaging. The national accolades it's earned as a place to live, work, and play only prove what anyone who's been here has already experienced – and experience is the key.

Includes Cities/Towns: Durham, Research Triangle Park.

Region Characteristics



Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness


    More than sixteen million people visit Durham each year, where they will all find a wealth of things to see and do. Whether you're looking for awarding-winning performing arts, unique visual arts, stimulating nightlife, one-of-a-kind shopping, or scenic natural experiences, Durham has you covered.

There are also historic sites to visit, sporting events to watch, outdoor recreation to try, and farms to tour. In other words, Durham is overflowing with unique, exciting things to do, no matter what kind of experience you're looking for, and there's always something new.

Cultural Activities


Durham is home to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, one of the most popular theaters in the country, as well as the historic Carolina Theatre, drawing national touring acts in music, comedy, and theater. It is also home to the American Dance Festival, the most important modern dance festival in the country, and Duke Performances, curating a season full of eclectic music, dance, and other performances from locally grown and international acts.

It is left as no wonder that Durham is a place replete with performances to captivate any crowd, from its largest, well-known venues to its black-box community theatres.

Public transportation


Durham has a wide variety of public transportation options in the area connecting Durham to neighboring cities like Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

Medical Facilities


Some may be familiar with Durham's start as a tobacco town or the popular nickname "Bull City," but today Durham is also referred to as the City of Medicine.

Durham's identity as a healthcare leader traces back to 1906, when Durham pharmacists Germain Bernard and C.T. Council developed BC Headache Powder. In the century that followed, healthcare has become Durham's largest employment cluster – nearly one in three people in Durham works in a health-related field, and more than 300 medical and health-related companies, medical practices, weight management centers, and pharmaceutical research organizations are located here, with a combined payroll exceeding $1.2 billion.

Today, Durham continues to earn its name as the City of Medicine because it has:

-A physician-to-population ratio almost 4.5 times the national average.
-Over 3,700 licensed physicians and interns and more than 6,000 nurses.
-46% of the biotech firms based in North Carolina.
-One of three US hospitals to be recognized by the American Hospital Association for leadership and innovation in quality, safety, and commitment to patient care.
-One of the top 10 US hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report.
-Facilities serving more than 200,000 veterans living in a 26-county area of central and eastern North Carolina.

Six modern hospitals that lie at the heart of Duham's reputation: Duke University Hospital & Medical Center, Duke Children's Hospital & McGovern-Davison Health Center, Duke Regional Hospital, Durham Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, Lenox Baker Children's Hospital, and North Carolina Specialty Hospital.


What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Durham, North Carolina?

For those of you that retire in Durham, you will enjoy warm summers, a cool fall, a cold winter and a temperate spring!

Winter temperatures are cold with averages in the low 40's and highs in the low 50's. Nights are cold with lows in the low 30's. Expect some rainy days in the winter.

If the weather in the spring is too cold for the outdoors, enjoy some indoor activities in Durham such as a movie, a visit to a museum, dining, nightlife or some shopping. Spring temperatures are cool with averages in the upper 50's and highs in the low 70's. Nights are cold with lows in the upper 40's. Expect some rainy days in the spring.

Summertime in Durham is a great time to enjoy your retirement with a day at the lake, an outdoor concert, a local festival or other outdoor activity! Summer temperatures are warm with averages in the upper 70's and highs in the upper 80's. Nights are mild with lows in the upper 60's. Expect a lot of days above 90°. Humidity may feel uncomfortable. Expect some rainy days in the summer.

If you retire in Durham, you can look forward to fall weather activities such as biking on a bike path, hiking, enjoying a walking path and more! Fall temperatures are cool with averages in the low 60's and highs in the low 70's. Nights are cold with lows in the upper 40's. Expect some rainy days in the fall.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  30 F°  40 F°  50 F°
 Feb  32 F°  43 F°  54 F°
 Mar  38 F°  50 F°  63 F°
 Apr  46 F°  59 F°  72 F°
 May  55 F°  67 F°  79 F°
 Jun  65 F°  76 F°  86 F°
 Jul  69 F°  79 F°  89 F°
 Aug  68 F°  78 F°  87 F°
 Sep  61 F°  71 F°  81 F°
 Oct  48 F°  60 F°  72 F°
 Nov  39 F°  51 F°  63 F°
 Dec  32 F°  42 F°  53 F°

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  19  0
 Feb  0  15  0
 Mar  0  9  0
 Apr  0  2  0
 May  1  0  0
 Jun  9  0  0
 Jul  14  0  0
 Aug  11  0  0
 Sep  3  0  0
 Oct  0  1  0
 Nov  0  7  0
 Dec  0  17  0

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  4 "  9  28 %
 Feb  3 "  9  29 %
 Mar  5 "  10  35 %
 Apr  3 "  9  43 %
 May  4 "  10  55 %
 Jun  4 "  10  64 %
 Jul  5 "  10  69 %
 Aug  5 "  9  68 %
 Sep  4 "  7  61 %
 Oct  4 "  7  50 %
 Nov  3 "  8  40 %
 Dec  3 "  9  31 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  2 "  1  1
 Feb  1 "  1  1
 Mar  0 "  0  0
 Apr  0 "  0  0
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  0 "  0  0
 Dec  0 "  0  0


Natural Disaster Areas


Cost of Living for Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

 Cost of Living

Demographics

Race

Religion

Political Party

Age

Senior Housing Options

Durham's culture of youthful vibrancy makes it especially welcoming to retiring newcomers. Affordable housing options include urban apartments, sleepy suburbs, historic mill villages, and farm houses with plenty of land so that your golden years can have the setting you always dreamed of. Downtown Durham is easily enjoyed on foot, and walking trails and parks throughout the city make for a very pleasant afternoon in the springtime (or fall – that's the benefit of a mild climate). The parks and recreation department also runs a senior games program with everything from basketball and cheerleading to woodworking and quilting so you can stay active by keeping up old hobbies or finding new ones.

Senior Assistance in Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina offers the following assistance for seniors:

What Job or Volunteer Opportunities Does Durham Offer For Retirees?

Durham has been recognized by numerous publications for the strength of its job market, but that doesn't always mean it's easy to find what you're looking for. The same goes for volunteering: Durham is a welcoming, friendly place, but it's not always clear where to start looking for opportunities. That's why we've put together this searchable list of resources to help you jump right in. See more at: http://www.durham-nc.com/newcomers/jobs-volunteer-resources/#sthash.LZm4ZrDP.dpuf

Additional Information

Visitor Information

Relocation Information


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