Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Hartford
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $32,869 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 37°F
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
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($198,900 vs $316,600)
17% less violent crime than Durham
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,296)
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $32,869/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$32,869
$74,710 vs $41,841/yr
Durham
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hartford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Violent Crime
17% lower
515.8 vs 619.2 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$118k less
$198,900 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,154 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham wins 13 and Hartford 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 Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $198,900 median home), income ($74,710 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Hartford, CT are about 521 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.