Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 14 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($316,600 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $644/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,940)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $37,555/yr
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
Roseville, CA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $37,555 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Durham
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$280k less
$316,600 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$37,555
$112,265 vs $74,710/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
65% lower
219.2 vs 619.2 per 100k
Roseville
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Durham is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 14 of 23 categories. Durham wins 9 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $596,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Roseville, CA are about 2,316 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.