Downtown Durham has been experiencing remarkable growth with an integration of Duke University becoming a large stakeholder in the properties there.

That is not the point.If prices were do double every 10 years (sub 7% compounded growth), your $100K would become $200K in 10 years and then $400K in 20 years.

They usually require your previous 2 years tax returns to look for consistent income but if you can explain your income growth is due to a new job after graduation, you won't have any problems. 

Find an agent who can answer your questions, a property manager, and see how the property would work for you.Living in Orlando I see Altamonte as a great area to invest in, large growth with much more to come and fairly family oriented. 

If you are seeing population/job growth along with new development in the market, it might be something so look into.

Is their still room for growth?

There are also very local factors that affect each market, meaning the local economy, job growth, demographics, local lending, insurance costs, property taxes etc. and these have an equal or greater affect on prices, inventory, rental rates, etc. in each respective market.For more info on the market cycle and what stage some of the major cities are in check out this article below:https://joefairless.com/what-stage-in-the-market-cycle-is-your-target-apartment-investment-market/

Many midwest markets are seeing solid population growth and are still attractive.

(Read as lots of growth)The down side is I would be making about the same as I am at my current job with the potential to move up quickly.

I'll also try and look at high growth areas I've lived in before (in different states) as it's hard to manage property there remotely but passive investing should be ok.