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2026 Community Population Study Findings

Part One: Understanding Our Community

In the summer of 2025, the Leon Levine Foundation, in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA),conducted a community pulse study of the Carolinas.

Through this study, we received findings specific to our local Jewish community across Durham, Orange, Chatham, and Alamance Counties. We are pleased to share highlights from this study — an important effort to better understand who we are as a community today and how we can thoughtfully plan for the future.

The study offers valuable insights into our community’s size, demographics, levels of engagement, and evolving needs. It highlights both our strengths — including a deep sense of identity and connection — and areas where we have opportunities to grow, ensuring that our programs, services, and spaces remain welcoming, relevant, and impactful for all.

Below is a snapshot of what we learned (and in some cases, what was reaffirmed) through the study.

COMMUNITY SIZE AND MAKEUP 

These findings paint a picture of a vibrant and highly engaged Jewish community of approximately 15,000 people across our region.

Notably, our community is largely made up of those who chose to make this region their home — 91% of residents are not originally from here. While ours has historically been a more transient population, the findings now tell a powerful story of rootedness and long-term commitment: half of those who relocated have lived here for more than a decade. Together, these trends reflect a community that continues to welcome new individuals and families, while deepening its stability, connection, and sense of belonging over time. 

The data also show that Jewish identity across our community is broad and diverse — 77% identify as Jewish by religion, with denominational affiliation spanning Reform (27%), Conservative (21%), Orthodox (2%), Reconstructionist (8%), and 42% identifying as “Just Jewish” or culturally/secularly Jewish.  

The findings also highlight a community that is highly educated, with 63% holding graduate or professional degrees, far exceeding peer communities, and one that is largely professionally active, with 69% participating in the workforce and 25% retired. 

Politically, the community leans strongly Democratic, with 61% identifying as Democrats and 62% describing themselves as liberal, compared to just 6% identifying as Republican and 10% as conservative — significantly more progressive than neighboring communities.

Together, these insights reflect a community that is educated, civically engaged, and diverse in identity, reinforcing the importance of offering inclusive, intellectually rich, and values-driven opportunities for connection, leadership, and belonging across all segments of the population. 

WHERE WE LIVE

What was once centered primarily in Durham and Chapel Hill has grown into a broader regional community that now includes all of Durham, Orange, Chatham, and Alamance Counties, as well as portions of Person County.

This growth highlights both the increasing reach of our community and the importance of creating accessible opportunities for connection and belonging across an increasingly diverse and geographically dispersed population.   

52% of our local Jewish community lives within what we will call the inner region of our catchment area, represented in blue, with 48% living in the outer region, represented in orange.  

LOOKING AHEAD

In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing additional findings and engaging in conversations about what these insights mean for our collective future. 

Today's email is the first in a four-part series highlighting key takeaways and opportunities for action. In the weeks ahead, we'll explore findings related to Israel, safety and security, and community engagement.