Durhams Rising Cost of Living: A Tale of Displacement and ResistanceThe cost of living in Durham, North Carolina, has surged, surpassing the national average, leading to significant demographic shifts. The white population in downtown Durhams zip code has grown by fifty-one percent, while Black neighborhoods have experienced displacement rates ranging from ten to thirty-seven percent. Housing prices and rent have also escalated, with Durhams eviction rate remaining higher than the national average.Black tenants, who make up less than half of Durhams renting population, account for over three-quarters of those facing eviction. The MIT cost of living hourly wage for a single person in Durham is twenty-five dollars an hour, or sixty-five dollars an hour for a single parent with two children, highlighting the affordability crisis.Duke University, the second-largest landowner in Durham, has continued to acquire land despite community opposition. With property holdings totaling over seven hundred eighty-seven million dollars, Duke does not pay property taxes on its academic and health-related buildings due to its non-profit status.In response, a coalition of local organizations, Duke Respect Durham, launched a campaign demanding Duke pay fifty million dollars annually to the city in lieu of property taxes. However, Duke University has rejected these calls, emphasizing their role as an engine for Durhams success through community engagement initiatives rather than direct tax payments.

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