NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Metro Market Score 40.3 (Moderate), ranked #51 of 378 metros. 1,594 establishments, 23,893 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 40.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

🌱Emerging Market

Durham-Chapel Hill ranks in the top quartile for retail trade market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 40.3, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
0.8
LQ: 0.70
Rank #3 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
70.6
$40,167 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 72.0
Employment growth index
Rank #107 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
70.0
YoY wage change index

1,594 Retail Trade Firms in Durham-Chapel Hill

1,594
Establishments
-1.1% YoY
23,893
Total Employment
+0.6% YoY
$40,167
Average Annual Wage
+1.6% YoY
0.70
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Durham-Chapel Hill vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #25/51 for entry risk.

Measure Durham-Chapel Hill NC Statewide
Overall Score 40.3 Moderate 43.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #51 of 378 metros #25 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 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 80.0

Retail Trade in Other North Carolina Metros

Wilmington 42.4 #61/378 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 42.7 #65/378 Raleigh-Cary 44.4 #78/378 Goldsboro 45.0 #83/378 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 47.0 #99/378 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 50.4 #146/378 Rocky Mount 56.1 #210/378 Greensboro-High Point 56.3 #212/378 Winston-Salem 60.3 #256/378 Burlington 61.6 #274/378

+ 4 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 retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (70.6) 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.