Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Durham
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($246,000 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $282/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $13,207/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Durham, NC
Pros
48% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $13,207 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$71k less
$246,000 vs $316,600
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 87.0°F
Durham
Median Income
$13,207
$74,710 vs $61,503/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
48% lower
619.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,296 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $74,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 5.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 284,094 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Durham wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $316,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Durham, NC are about 1,556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.