Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $660k less ($316,600 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $1022/mo less ($1,296 vs $2,318)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $40,037/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
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $40,037 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Durham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$660k less
$316,600 vs $976,800
Durham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$40,037
$114,747 vs $74,710/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
67% lower
207.3 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 16.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Durham is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $976,800 median home), income ($74,710 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Huntington Beach, CA are about 2,208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.