Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Durham, NC
Pros
16% less violent crime than Charlotte
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,399)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 87.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.0 on the COL index
Durham
Median Income
$640
$74,710 vs $74,070/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
16% lower
619.2 vs 733.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,296 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $74,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 5.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 284,094 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $316,600 median home), income ($74,070 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Durham, NC are about 121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.