Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $23,187 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($162,000 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $379/mo less ($917 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $23,187/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$23,187
$74,710 vs $51,523/yr
Durham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$155k less
$162,000 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Roanoke wins 11. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $162,000 median home), income ($74,710 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Roanoke, VA are about 107 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.