Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($316,600 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,371)
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
Median income trails Raleigh by $3,921/yr
Raleigh, NC
Pros
21% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $3,921 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$30k less
$316,600 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$3,921
$78,631 vs $74,710/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
21% lower
488.8 vs 619.2 per 100k
Raleigh
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 52.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Durham is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 11 and Raleigh wins 12. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $347,000 median home), income ($74,710 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Raleigh, NC are about 18 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.