Overview: Native
Americans first established a trading post in
the spot that is now Durham, and white explorers
first wrote about the area in the early 1700s,
calling it the "flower of the
Carolinas." It became home to grand
plantations in the era before the Civil War and
later became the site of a thriving tobacco
industry. Today it is home to Duke
University and has a thriving cultural and
athletic scene.
Population:
220,000 (city proper)
Percentage of Population
Age 45 or Better: 27%
Cost
of Living: 5% Below National Average
Median
Home Price: $165,000
Crime
Rate: Above National Average
At
Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare
Patients? Yes
Political
Leanings: Heavily Democratic
Notes:
Award-winning hospitals; very diverse city;
great dining scene
Recommended
as a Retirement Spot? Probably yes, but
the high crime rate should be considered
