Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Durham leads 17 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $30,266 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (4.3%)
40% less violent crime than Trenton
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($111,200 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,296)
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $30,266/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$30,266
$74,710 vs $44,444/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
40% lower
619.2 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$205k less
$111,200 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Durham is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 17 of 23 categories. Durham wins 17 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $111,200 median home), income ($74,710 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Trenton, NJ are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.