Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Durham leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($316,600 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $568/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,864)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Renton by $17,582/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Renton, WA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $17,582 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Durham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$260k less
$316,600 vs $576,800
Durham
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$17,582
$92,292 vs $74,710/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
45% lower
339.2 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 53.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Durham is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham wins 14 and Renton wins 9. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $576,800 median home), income ($74,710 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Renton, WA are about 2,335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.