NAICS 51

Information in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Metro Market Score 80.0 (Difficult), ranked #293 of 294 metros. 764 establishments, 5,638 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 80.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

💰High-Cost Market

Information employment in Durham-Chapel Hill contracted year-over-year, placing the growth trend in the bottom 10% at 14.6. Declining job counts can indicate consolidation, population shifts, or reduced local demand. Due diligence on the local economy is especially important here.

Industry Concentration
88.8
LQ: 0.88
Rank #261 of 294 metros
Wage Competitiveness
98.0
$195,935 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 14.6
Employment growth index
Rank #252 of 294 metros
Wage Pressure
38.3
YoY wage change index

764 Information Firms in Durham-Chapel Hill

764
Establishments
+4.4% YoY
5,638
Total Employment
-9.0% YoY
$195,935
Average Annual Wage
+23.4% YoY
0.88
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Durham-Chapel Hill vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #28/51 for entry risk.

Measure Durham-Chapel Hill NC Statewide
Overall Score 80.0 Difficult 45.3 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #293 of 294 metros #28 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Durham-Chapel Hill

Construction 31.9 Accommodation and Food Services 40.0 Retail Trade 40.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 40.8 Other Services 49.7 Administrative and Support Services 50.5 Finance and Insurance 62.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 66.1 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 67.4

Information in Other North Carolina Metros

Goldsboro 10.2 #2/294 Fayetteville 26.9 #45/294 Winston-Salem 34.6 #81/294 Jacksonville 36.4 #92/294 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 37.9 #102/294 Rocky Mount 44.4 #148/294 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 45.4 #157/294 Greenville 46.9 #169/294 Greensboro-High Point 49.0 #185/294 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 56.8 #220/294

+ 2 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Durham-Chapel Hill's information sector, the employment growth component (85.4) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.