Tech Town report: Durham ‘creating a reputation for itself as a top startup ecosystem’

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The Durham-Chapel Hill metro area rose two spots to No. 13 in the second annual CompTIA “Tech Town” report. Here’s what the report has to say:

Breaking down the Durham-Chapel market as a “Tech Town” in CompTIA report.

“There’s a plethora of smart people in Durham and Chapel Hill. While that may be a bit of a subjective statement, the fact is Research Triangle Park is the epicenter of North Carolina’s tech research and development.

“The sheer proximity to three major research universities as well as a bright entrepreneurial community are just a few of the reasons that the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area has moved up two spots from 2018 to no. 13 on our Tech Town list this year.

“Home to the [Council for Entrepreneurial Development] (CED), Durham is creating a reputation for itself as a top startup ecosystem—making WalletHub’s list of the 10 best large cities to start a business. And even with a highly-educated workforce and talent pipeline, there’s still plenty of opportunity.

“In the last 12 months the metro area posted nearly 17,300 technology jobs. Looking ahead, the number of IT jobs is estimated to grow by 3% over the next 5 years.

‘With a cost of living slightly lower than the national average (1.4%) and IT pros making a median salary of $91,156 per year, the area is an attractive option for a wide variety of folks.

‘Durham-Chapel Hill transplants include those looking to start or further their IT career as well as young baby boomers who want to keep working in tech but also have a desire to be close to grandchildren and enjoy the benefits of lower property taxes.”