The New Durham: Northern Tip of Triangle Building Fresh Image

The housing market in Durham is booming. The average cost of a new home is about $200,000 -- a 20 percent increase from last year. Greg Payne with the city's economic development department says people are choosing to live in Durham for a number of reasons.

"People are seeing that they can live in Durham and use the Durham Freeway, which has a lot less congestion than I-40," he says. "Plus, we've really made some important improvements and strides in our schools."

With so many high-tech firms moving to the area, Durham's salaries are on the rise. The average job in Durham County pays more than any other in the state -- close to $44,000 a year. That is at least $10,000 more than in Wake and Orange counties.

Those changes mean a shift in image. Durham's reputation as a blue collar town is giving way to a new image. The northern point of the Triangle is becoming an attractive nest for RTPers.

Despite the boom, the average price of a house in Durham is still cheaper than what you would find in Orange and Wake counties, but that could change in the next few years.