Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Public schools that outperform most of California.
Durham grades C+ overall, ranked 252nd of 841 in California, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. On the other side, homes are expensive, about $603K for a typical one and 8.9 times the Chico metro’s $68K median household income. It also does better than most on schools: its schools rank ahead of 72% of California towns. Durham’s July high is 96°F, against 89°F in California’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns. Only 103 of California’s 1,064 towns score higher on hazard risk. Durham has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them W. W. Durham House and Patrick Ranch House.
Where Durham beats most towns.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Durham is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 4,784 in 1990, 5,834 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2013 and 5 maps from 1912 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Durham is unincorporated, so Butte County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Durham.
Durham has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns and trades workers with Chico and other neighbors.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Durham since 1998.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Its public schools are run by the Durham Unified school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Durham High, with 320 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 495 | B+ |
| Durham HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 320 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
People 65 and older are 27% of residents (16% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 19% of residents (24% statewide). Durham’s median age is 50.8 years. 40% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
| Durham | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 27% | 16% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 29% | 29% |
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.5 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Durham | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 10.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.2% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.8% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.9% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.5% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.6% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.8% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.9% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.6% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.1% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.5% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.8% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Durham beats the California average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 30% of Durham adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Durham | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 35% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 36% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 72% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 22% | 23% |
| What stands out | Durham | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.2% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.8% | 17.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.2% | 6.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The Orland weather station, 23 miles away, records that about 92 days a year reach 90°, more than in 95% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 96°, hotter than in 97% of U.S. towns; January nights average 38.6°.
Durham has mild winters and hot summers. The January low in Durham is 39°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The typical Durham home is worth about $603,000, up 3.7% in a year, 21% below the California typical home.
| Durham | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,105 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 64% | 73% |
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Durham has about as many jobs (2,131) as working residents, but only 261 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 18.1 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Most working residents leave Durham for work: only 12% work in town. Since 2013, Durham has added 446 jobs, to 2,131 in 2023. The top destinations are Chico (39%), Oroville (7%) and Yuba City (2%).
| Durham | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Median household income | $95,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
25 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Durham Community Park, at 22 acres.
| Durham | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Durham Community Park | — | 22 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Durham. Close and well known come first.
17 mi DamOroville Dam
28 mi MountainSutter Buttes
9 mi Park & preserveBidwell Park
12 mi MuseumChico Air Museum
8 mi MuseumMuseum of Northern California Art
39 mi MuseumSacramento Valley MuseumOroville Dam: California Department of Water Resources, Public domain · Sutter Buttes: Expedition 32 crew/NASA, Public domain · Bidwell Park: Saopaulo1 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chico Air Museum: Bsudicky, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museum of Northern California Art: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sacramento Valley Museum: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
3 within 15 miles of the center of Durham
About 8 of every 100 Durham residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
2 places in Durham on the National Register of Historic Places.
Census-designated place in California, United States
Durham is a census-designated place (CDP) in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 5,834 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
One town shares a border with Durham.
Durham reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Durham with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Durham grades C+ overall, better than 44% of U.S. towns and #252 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
