Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Durham leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $506k less ($316,600 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $495/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,791)
15% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.3%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
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
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Violent Crime
15% lower
619.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Durham
Median Home Value
$506k less
$316,600 vs $822,600
Durham
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$1,534
$76,244 vs $74,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 36.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Durham is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham wins 14 and Los Angeles wins 9. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $822,600 median home), income ($74,710 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Los Angeles, CA are about 2,225 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.