Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($197,200 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,371)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $23,580/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
47% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $23,580 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$150k less
$197,200 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$23,580
$78,631 vs $55,051/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
47% lower
488.8 vs 923.7 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.6% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 8 and Raleigh wins 15. 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 Greensboro to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $347,000 median home), income ($55,051 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Raleigh, NC are about 69 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.