Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Las Vegas leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094
Las Vegas
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $49k less ($316,600 vs $365,300)
Households earn $8,354 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
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
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
31% less violent crime than Durham
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Durham by $8,354/yr
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$8,354
$74,710 vs $66,356/yr
Durham
Median Home Value
$49k less
$316,600 vs $365,300
Durham
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
31% lower
429.8 vs 619.2 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $66,356 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 125⚠ 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 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 11 and Las Vegas wins 12. 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $365,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Las Vegas, NV are about 2,018 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.