Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
8% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,459 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($196,700 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $10,459/yr
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$10,459
$74,710 vs $64,251/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
8% lower
619.2 vs 676.0 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$120k less
$196,700 vs $316,600
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham wins 9 and Oklahoma City wins 14. 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $196,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Oklahoma City, OK are about 1,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.