Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($316,600 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $926/mo less ($1,296 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $37,171/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
Temecula, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $37,171 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Durham
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$288k less
$316,600 vs $604,300
Durham
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Temecula
Median Income
$37,171
$111,881 vs $74,710/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
76% lower
151.5 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 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 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Durham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 11 and Temecula 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $604,300 median home), income ($74,710 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Temecula, CA are about 2,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.