Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
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
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,426)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Braunfels by $11,117/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
75% less violent crime than Durham
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,117 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Homes cost $26k less ($290,800 vs $316,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$11,117
$85,827 vs $74,710/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
75% lower
156.4 vs 619.2 per 100k
New Braunfels
Median Home Value
$26k less
$290,800 vs $316,600
New Braunfels
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.3% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $290,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 16 of 23 categories. Durham wins 7 and New Braunfels wins 16. 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $290,800 median home), income ($74,710 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and New Braunfels, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.