Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Durham leads 16 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Orlando
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
26% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,509)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $8,418 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 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
Orlando, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 49°F
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Durham by $8,418/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$8,418
$74,710 vs $66,292/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
26% lower
619.2 vs 835.8 per 100k
Durham
Median Home Value
$16k less
$316,600 vs $332,700
Durham
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $66,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Durham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Durham leads 16 of 22 categories. Durham wins 16 and Orlando wins 6. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $332,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Orlando, FL are about 541 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.