Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $162k less ($316,600 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $12,256/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Kent, WA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $12,256 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$162k less
$316,600 vs $478,400
Durham
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$12,256
$86,966 vs $74,710/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
21% lower
489.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Durham is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Durham leads 15 of 22 categories. Durham wins 15 and Kent 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $478,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Kent, WA are about 2,335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.