01
Pedestrian flow posts 75/100 (5% below the mean), guiding how much budget you reserve for paid acquisition.
Advanced Site Intelligence
Best Business Location in Durham
Durham offers 1,500,000 metro customers, $72,000 average income, and high commercial activity—ideal conditions for data-led site selection.
Durham metro spans 1.5M residents earning $72,000 on average.
79 readiness score (B+)
1,500,000 metro residents
$72,000 average income
1,500K
Metro Population
$72K
Avg Income
High
Business Density
5
Major Industries
Interactive Location Finder
Find the Best Location in Durham
Interactive map analysis for Durham. Click any area to reveal foot traffic patterns, competitor density, and demographic insights for your business.
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Location Finder
Durham, United States
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✓ Competitor map
✓ Foot traffic data
✓ Optimal zones
✓ Revenue estimate
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Competitor Locations
Opportunity Zones
High Traffic Areas
1,500,000 potential customers in metro area
500+ businesses helped
Real-time market data
AI-powered recommendations
Durham Business Environment
Market Insights
- Durham metro spans 1.5M residents earning $72,000 on average.
- $72,000 income vs $26/sqft rent = 2.3x economic ratio.
- Walk-by traffic scores 75. Space costs $26/sqft. Weigh discovery against overhead.
- A 1,500,000-person metro with 75/100 pedestrian activity.
- Market expanding (Very High). Competition intensity: Moderate.
- $26/sqft commercial rent. Cost advantage for emerging concepts.
- Biotechnology/Healthcare employers dominate. $72,000 income benchmark.
- Located in North Carolina, United States with USD currency
Top Industries
Biotechnology
Healthcare
Education
Technology
Research
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From Data to Location: Durham
Tap into Durham's 1.5M consumers earning $72K—we'll show you exactly where they shop.
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Durham Neighborhood Analysis
Discover the best neighborhoods for your business type in Durham
Durham offers a mix of commercial settings including the central business district, neighborhood retail corridors, and emerging development areas—each with unique rent-to-traffic dynamics
Successful Durham businesses match their location strategy to target demographics—downtown for office crowds, residential areas for neighborhood regulars, suburban for family-oriented services
Extended metro area provides 4.6x population reach beyond city limits, supporting suburban expansion strategies
Downtown/City Center
- • Highest foot traffic density
- • Premium rental costs
- • Best for retail & restaurants
- • Excellent public transport access
Business Districts
- • High concentration of offices
- • Ideal for B2B services
- • Strong weekday traffic
- • Growing food & beverage demand
Suburban Areas
- • Lower rental costs
- • Family-oriented demographics
- • Ample parking availability
- • Good for service businesses
Emerging Areas
- • High growth potential
- • Lower competition density
- • Opportunity for early movers
- • Rising property values
Durham Business Readiness Score
Data-driven viability assessment
B+
79
Overall Score
12
market size
16
income level
16
business activity
15
foot traffic
20
growth outlook
Best Business Types for Durham
Find location-specific insights for different business types in Durham
Restaurant in Durham
Analyze foot traffic patterns, demographics, and competition for restaurants
View analysis
Retail Store in Durham
Find high-traffic retail locations with ideal customer demographics
View analysis
Coffee Shop in Durham
Locate areas with morning traffic and office worker density
View analysis
Industry Synergy Opportunities in Durham
Top industries creating demand for specific business types
Healthcare
Healthcare clusters attract patients and create medical service demand
Best Business Types:
Medical Clinic
Dental Office
Pharmacy
Education
Students and faculty drive consistent demand for affordable services
Best Business Types:
Coffee Shop
Restaurant
Retail Store
Technology
Tech workers value convenience, health, and quality dining near offices
Best Business Types:
Coffee Shop
Restaurant
Gym & Fitness
Cost Analysis
Cost of Operations in Durham
Financial breakdown for a 1,500 sq ft location
Startup Investment
Basic Setup
3 months rent + basics
Standard Buildout
6 months rent + furnishing
Premium Finish
12 months rent + premium
Monthly Operating
Rent (1,500 sqft)
$39,000
Utilities & Services
$3,900
Labor (2 employees)
$5,760
Total Monthly
Break-even target
Cost Insights
Affordable rent at $26/sqft enables competitive pricing strategies
Durham Market Entry Timing
Data-driven signals for optimal business launch timing
73
/ 100
Good - Favorable Window
Strong market conditions support entry. Develop detailed business plan and secure financing within next 3-6 months.
Entry Timing Factors
🚀
Very high growth trajectory - first-mover advantage available
⚖️
Moderate competition - balanced market entry
🚶
Good foot traffic (75) - organic visibility
Business Performance in Durham
Market dynamics and success indicators
Durham supports 110% more businesses per capita than typical markets, demonstrating strong local purchasing power
Local businesses average 7.2 years of operation—above the 5.8-year national median
Solid middle-class income base ($72,000) generates consistent consumer demand across service categories
Market Signals
Durham Insights That Guide Expansion
Each metric is generated for this city so every page tells a different story about demand, rents, and timing.
02
The metro catchment is 4.6x larger than city limits (1,500,000 vs 324,000), opening suburban roll-out paths once the core site is stable.
03
Industries like Biotechnology, Healthcare, Education dictate where weekday traffic lives—align site selection accordingly.
04
Durham's moderate saturation at $26/sqft rents enables testing multiple service models before scaling.
05
1,050 sq ft of space at $26/sq ft loads 4.5x the average salary onto COGS, keeping efficiency front and center.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Durham
Answers refresh based on Durham's live data so there's no duplicate copy across cities.
What growth trajectory is Durham on?
Durham carries a very high growth potential rating, which shapes whether you sprint into multi-unit rollout or pace hiring.
How expensive is retail space relative to incomes in Durham?
A 1,050-sq-ft footprint at $26/sq ft runs roughly 4.5x the local average income ($72,000). Layer in menu engineering or ticket-size plays to offset the rent load.
Can I rely on organic foot traffic in Durham?
Yes—pedestrian flow scores 75/100, about 5% below the cross-market average, so plan signage and staffing around steady discovery.
How far can I scale within the Durham metro?
The metro area pulls 4.6x the population of city proper, so once the flagship location performs you can replicate into surrounding districts without leaving the DMA.
How crowded is the Durham market?
The Durham market runs at moderate saturation. With $72,000 incomes and $26/sqft rents, calibrate your unit economics to outperform entrenched players.
Data Sources & Methodology
Our analysis combines multiple authoritative data sources
Economic Data
- World Bank Open Data
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- National Census Bureaus
Business Intelligence
- Ease of Doing Business Index
- Global Innovation Index
- Industry Association Reports
Demographics
- UN Population Division
- Municipal Open Data Portals
- Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Real Estate
- Commercial Real Estate Listings
- CoStar Market Analytics
- Local Zoning Databases
Methodology Note: Our opportunity scores are calculated using a weighted algorithm that considers population density, income levels, competition saturation, commercial rent costs, and industry-specific success factors. Data is refreshed quarterly from authoritative sources. Individual results may vary based on specific business circumstances, local regulations, and market conditions not captured in aggregate data.
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