Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Greensboro
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
33% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $19,659 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($197,200 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $248/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $19,659/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$19,659
$74,710 vs $55,051/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
33% lower
619.2 vs 923.7 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Greensboro
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$119k less
$197,200 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 161⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 7.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Greensboro wins 11. 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $197,200 median home), income ($74,710 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Greensboro, NC are about 52 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.