Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $563k less ($316,600 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $649/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,945)
20% less violent crime than Seattle
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $41,358/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
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $41,358 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Violent Crime
20% lower
619.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Durham
Median Home Value
$563k less
$316,600 vs $879,900
Durham
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$41,358
$116,068 vs $74,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Durham is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham wins 13 and Seattle wins 10. 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $879,900 median home), income ($74,710 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Seattle, WA are about 2,343 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.