Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,729)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $13,756/yr
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
62% less violent crime than Durham
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,756 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$13,756
$88,466 vs $74,710/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
62% lower
235.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$13k less
$304,000 vs $316,600
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Durham is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Durham wins 10 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $304,000 median home), income ($74,710 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.