Find Independent Living Communities near Durham, NC

Searching for Independent Living communities in Durham, NC?

Expert Senior Living Advisors from A Place for Mom can help direct you to Independent Living communities. Together, we will find the perfect fit for your loved one, and we will provide direction and support as needed. We partner with 252 Independent Living communities in Durham and the surrounding area, so there are many options to choose from. A Place for Mom is the largest senior living referral service in North America, and we can help you make a good choice at no cost to you.

See more information about Durham, NC:

• Independent Living in Durham, NC
• Cost of Living
• Local Hospitals
• Weather and Climate
• Demographics and Values
• Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

Part of central North Carolina’s “Research Triangle,” Durham is more than a college town — the city’s diverse history reverberates throughout its many museums, parks, and revitalized shopping districts.

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Durham are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Durham retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Durham, NC

The median monthly cost of independent living in Durham is about $2,400 in the city proper and $2,600 within the metropolitan area. The median monthly cost for independent living in the state of North Carolina is around $2,600 as well.

Learn More About Durham, NC

The total household expenses associated with living in Durham are rated 12 points below the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated below the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Income and Housing

The top hospitals that service Durham include:

Duke Regional Hospital

• Facility type: governmental, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 350+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, joint replacement

Duke University Hospital

• Facility type: nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 970+
• Specialties: emergency department, inpatient surgery, ICU

Durham has a humid subtropical climate, meaning the city has four distinct seasons. Summers tend to be hot and humid, and thunderstorms are common. During winter, temperatures are usually cool but not extremely cold, and abundant snowfall is rare. Durham’s average humidity level is 67%, and humidity levels are often highest during September at about 73%.

Seasonal Temperatures

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 81

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average Annual Precipitation: 48″

Population Statistics

Race & Ethnicity

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Durham: 0/30
• Overall inclusivity: 69/100

2016 Presidential Election Results for Durham County

Part of central North Carolina’s “Research Triangle,” Durham stays vibrant thanks to the two major universities that influence much of the city’s modern culture and economy. But this is more than a college town — Durham’s role in the early civil rights movement, along with its roots in the tobacco industry, are reflected throughout the city’s museums, parks, and sports teams.

The American Tobacco Historic, a former tobacco factory complex converted into restaurants and event venues, helps anchor the city’s revitalized downtown area, along with the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls Athletic Park for baseball. Only a few blocks away, the dining spots and boutique shops in the repurposed tobacco warehouses of Brightleaf Square are a go-to destination for both locals and tourists. Other downtown highlights are the Museum of Durham History — where you can learn about the Hayti neighborhood and other examples of African American prosperity in Durham — and the Carolina Theatre, which hosts concerts and film festivals throughout the year. The area around the campus of Duke University, a couple miles west of downtown, includes the Nasher Museum of Art and the gorgeous Sarah P. Duke Gardens, a 55-acre park with walking paths weaving throughout manicured lawns, pristine flower beds, wooded areas, and a large koi pond.

If you’re looking for outdoor excursions and activities, you’ll have plenty of options around Durham. Eno River State Park features hiking trails, campgrounds, and opportunities for fishing and canoeing. West Point on the Eno is a riverside park with trails and an amphitheater, as well as a historical center with well-preserved structures like an 1800s mill and farm house now open to the public. Running more than 20 miles along an abandoned railroad track through the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, the American Tobacco Trail provides a paved trail open to walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers, and wheelchair users. The Museum of Life and Science, with interactive exhibits both inside and outside, attracts curious visitors of all ages.

Transportation

Transportation in Durham is available via the city’s public transit system GoDurham, which provides bus routes with stops throughout the city. GoDurham offers free service for seniors along with ACCESS, a paratransit program for accessible, door-to-door transportation. GoTriangle is the public transportation service for the Research Triangle region encompassing Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Cary. Operated by Amtrak, the Carolinean is a commuter train running between Charlotte and New York with a stop in downtown Durham.