Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Eugene
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $89k less ($316,600 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $13,229 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
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
Eugene, OR
Pros
49% less violent crime than Durham
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Median income trails Durham by $13,229/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$13,229
$74,710 vs $61,481/yr
Durham
Median Home Value
$89k less
$316,600 vs $406,000
Durham
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Violent Crime
49% lower
317.9 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $406,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 45.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 176,755 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Durham is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham wins 13 and Eugene 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 Durham to Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $406,000 median home), income ($74,710 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Eugene, OR are about 2,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.