Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
58% less violent crime than Raleigh
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $51k less ($296,100 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,371)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $6,710/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,710 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Violent Crime
58% lower
204.2 vs 488.8 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$51k less
$296,100 vs $347,000
Denton
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.6°F
Raleigh
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$6,710
$78,631 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories. Denton wins 11 and Raleigh wins 12. 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 Denton to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $347,000 median home), income ($71,921 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Raleigh, NC are about 1,067 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.