Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 20 categories
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
Germantown
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $77k less ($316,600 vs $393,700)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $34,558/yr
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
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $34,558 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Durham
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$77k less
$316,600 vs $393,700
Durham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Germantown
Median Income
$34,558
$109,268 vs $74,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $393,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 46.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 20 categories. Durham wins 13 and Germantown wins 7. 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 Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $393,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Germantown, MD are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.