Durham is located in North Carolina's Triangle area, rated one of the nation's most livable areas by national publications including Money magazine and Rand-McNally's Places Rated Almanac. Home to nearly a million people, the Triangle has one of the highest PhDs-per-capita rates in the country, thanks in part to its three major universities: Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located respectively in Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. Anchoring the region is Research Triangle Park, the world's largest university-related research and production district, where more than 100 companies have spawned innovations ranging from Astroturf to AZT.

The city of Durham offers many outdoor recreation opportunities and top sports teams, including Duke basketball and Durham Bulls baseball. Near the Duke campus are the Ninth Street shopping district and the shops and restaurants of Brightleaf Square, located in a picturesque converted tobacco warehouse. Other area attractions include the Hayti Heritage Center, the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, the Primate Center, and the extensive arts and cultural offerings of Duke.