Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $57k less ($316,600 vs $373,200)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Households earn $6,274 more per year on average
Cons
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
Indio, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Durham
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Durham
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.3%)
Median income trails Durham by $6,274/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$6,274
$74,710 vs $68,436/yr
Durham
Median Home Value
$57k less
$316,600 vs $373,200
Durham
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Violent Crime
46% lower
336.2 vs 619.2 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $373,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,344⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Durham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Indio 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $373,200 median home), income ($74,710 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Indio, CA are about 2,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.