Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Indianapolis, IN
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
29% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $15,600 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 34°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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($184,600 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $15,600/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$15,600
$74,710 vs $59,110/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
29% lower
619.2 vs 877.9 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 83.7°F
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$132k less
$184,600 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $184,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,046 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $59,110 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 33.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Indianapolis Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 41.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 25.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 882,006 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Indianapolis's 94.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham wins 13 and Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $184,600 median home), income ($74,710 vs $59,110), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Indianapolis, IN are about 474 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.