The Town FilesDurham, Oregon
City in Washington County · population 1,944 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $759,600
- Household income
- $81,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.5
Durham is a city of 1,944 people in Washington County, Oregon. The median home is worth $759,600, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Oregon towns, more vibrant than 99% of Oregon towns, better transit than 94% of Oregon towns.
How Durham ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Durham is worth $759,600, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 9.3 times the median household income of $81,250, which is more affordable than 2% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,565 a month. 32.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Durham | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $759,600 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,565 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $81,250 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.3× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 32.4% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Durham
| People | Durham | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.7% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.4% | — |
| Work from home | 27.6% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in Durham
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 36.4°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F1, struck on November 12, 1991 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 12, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 12, 2007.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2024 | Fire | FM-5529: Lee Falls Fire |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | EM-3542: Wildfires |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | FM-5371: Chehalem Mountain Bald Peak Fire |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5358: Powerline Fire |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 308,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,292 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Durham itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Durham
- Rivergrove, OR1.3 mi · 545 people · home $902,300
- Tualatin, OR1.5 mi · 27,942 people · home $628,200
- Tigard, OR2.3 mi · 54,539 people · home $610,500
- King City, OR2.4 mi · 5,184 people · home $423,700
- Lake Oswego, OR3.1 mi · 40,731 people · home $932,200
- Metzger, OR3.8 mi · 4,272 people · home $543,400
- Bull Mountain, OR3.8 mi · 9,992 people · home $696,600
- Stafford, OR4.0 mi · 1,895 people · home $1,020,100
Durham questions
Is Durham, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Durham scores better for retirees than 5% of Oregon towns and quieter than 5%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Durham?
The median owner-occupied home in Durham is valued at $759,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,250, so homes cost about 9.3 times income. Median rent is $1,565 a month.
What is the weather like in Durham?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 36.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Durham get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on November 12, 1991. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)