Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Durham leads 16 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
46% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $14,270 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°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
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($235,000 vs $316,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $14,270/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$14,270
$74,710 vs $60,440/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
46% lower
619.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Median Home Value
$82k less
$235,000 vs $316,600
Houston
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 35.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Durham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 16 of 23 categories. Durham wins 16 and Houston 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $235,000 median home), income ($74,710 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Houston, TX are about 1,046 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.