Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $20,405 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,402)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
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
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($236,500 vs $316,600)
14% less violent crime than Durham
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $20,405/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$20,405
$74,710 vs $54,305/yr
Durham
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Violent Crime
14% lower
534.8 vs 619.2 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$80k less
$236,500 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Durham is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 15 of 23 categories. Durham wins 15 and New Haven wins 8. 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 Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $236,500 median home), income ($74,710 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and New Haven, CT are about 489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.