Home project costs in Durham, NC
Every project we cover, priced for the Durham-Chapel Hill metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Durham sits 108th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 97.6 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 96.6 (102nd). The metro has about 344,020 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 0 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 38 below. Sod installation (−2%), asphalt driveway (−4%) and vinyl fence (−4%) sit highest, and concrete driveway (−11%), home addition (−11%) and kitchen backsplash (−10%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Raleigh Durham Intl Ap, 9 miles away) shows a January average low of 32°F, a July average high of 91°F and 46 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are April through June and August through October; for exterior installation, they are August through June.
What local trades earn in Durham
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $19.03 | $22.38 | $25.15 | $22.66 | 0.99 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $22.61 | $24.44 | $29.62 | $28.78 | 0.85 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $23.25 | $28.90 | $31.27 | $30.67 | 0.94 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $18.21 | $21.36 | $24.17 | $27.41 | 0.78 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $23.95 | $28.47 | $30.77 | $30.38 | 0.94 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.65 | n/a |
Concrete & paving in Durham
Across these 7 projects, Durham averages −7% against national midpoints. Asphalt driveway is highest at −4% and concrete driveway lowest at −11%.
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Durham | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Durham | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Durham | 600 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,150 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Durham | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,600 | −6% |
| Paver patio cost in Durham | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,150 | −5% |
| Concrete patio cost in Durham | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Durham | 400 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,200 | −9% |
Decks & outdoor in Durham
Across these 2 projects, Durham averages −8% against national midpoints. Wood deck is highest at −7% and composite deck lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Durham | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
| Composite deck cost in Durham | 300 sq ft | $11,000 – $22,100 | −9% |
Building & additions in Durham
The 2 jobs here average −9% versus the US in Durham, from −11% (home addition) to −8% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Durham | 576 sq ft | $26,700 – $53,600 | −8% |
| Home addition cost in Durham | 300 sq ft | $33,900 – $68,800 | −11% |
Doors & windows in Durham
Across these 5 projects, Durham averages −7% against national midpoints. Garage door is highest at −5% and patio door lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Durham | 1 door | $660 – $3,500 | −5% |
| Storm door cost in Durham | 1 door | $320 – $890 | −7% |
| Front door cost in Durham | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −6% |
| Window replacement cost in Durham | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Patio door cost in Durham | 1 door | $560 – $5,450 | −9% |
Fencing in Durham
Across these 4 projects, Durham averages −5% against national midpoints. Vinyl fence is highest at −4% and aluminum fence lowest at −6%.
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Durham | 150 linear ft | $2,850 – $7,200 | −6% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Durham | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,750 | −4% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Durham | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,800 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Durham | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
Roofing & exterior in Durham
Across these 5 projects, Durham averages −7% against national midpoints. Attic insulation is highest at −6% and metal roof lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Durham | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,600 – $11,600 | −7% |
| Metal roof cost in Durham | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,000 – $29,800 | −9% |
| Gutters cost in Durham | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,900 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Durham | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,300 | −8% |
| Attic insulation cost in Durham | 1,000 sq ft | $930 – $3,800 | −6% |
Kitchen & bath in Durham
The 5 jobs here average −8% versus the US in Durham, from −10% (kitchen backsplash) to −5% (kitchen remodel).
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Durham | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,800 | −8% |
| Shower pan cost in Durham | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Durham | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Durham | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −8% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Durham | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Landscaping & drainage in Durham
The 5 jobs here average −5% versus the US in Durham, from −8% (retaining wall) to −2% (sod installation).
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Durham | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −5% |
| Retaining wall cost in Durham | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,400 – $12,500 | −8% |
| Sod installation cost in Durham | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Durham | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,550 | −5% |
| Inground pool cost in Durham | 450 sq ft | $33,700 – $105,500 | −7% |
Flooring & interior in Durham
Across these 3 projects, Durham averages −8% against national midpoints. Hardwood flooring is highest at −7% and tile flooring lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Durham range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Durham | 500 sq ft | $5,050 – $11,600 | −7% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Durham | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Tile flooring cost in Durham | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
Durham against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Durham comes out −7% versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, none price higher and 5 lower. Lynchburg is the lowest at −10% (95 miles) and Raleigh the highest at −7% (40 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | 97.6 | 96.6 | −7% | |
| Burlington, NC | 15 miles | 93.2 | 96.6 | −9% |
| Greensboro, NC | 40 miles | 92.9 | 96.6 | −9% |
| Raleigh, NC | 40 miles | 98.2 | 96.6 | −7% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 65 miles | 92.0 | 96.6 | −10% |
| Winston, NC | 70 miles | 92.0 | 96.6 | −9% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 95 miles | 89.4 | 96.8 | −10% |