Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than Durham
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,533 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Durham
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $603k less ($316,600 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $557/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Boulder by $5,533/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$5,533
$80,243 vs $74,710/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
48% lower
322.3 vs 619.2 per 100k
Durham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$603k less
$316,600 vs $919,700
Durham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,296 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $74,710 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 5.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 284,094 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 52.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 10 and Durham wins 13. 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 Boulder to Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $316,600 median home), income ($80,243 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Durham, NC are about 1,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.