Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Durham leads 15 of 22 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
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $28,250 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 39°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
Newark, NJ
Pros
6% less violent crime than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $28,250/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Durham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$28,250
$74,710 vs $46,460/yr
Durham
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Violent Crime
6% lower
581.2 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Newark's 112.5 (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 Newark 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $312,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Newark, NJ are about 416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.