City comparison
Yes. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The cost gap between Anaheim and Durham is the real story here. Durham comes in 31% cheaper on typical rent ($2,175 vs $1,508), which over a year adds up to $8,004. Median household income runs $95,227 in Anaheim and $81,619 in Durham.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and Durham are 2,201 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $667 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $81,619 in Durham, down $13,608 (14%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 193 in Durham, up 50 points (35%).
The move
Durham and Anaheim are 2,201 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $667 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $13,608 (17%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 143 in Anaheim, down 50 points (26%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Durham rent is 31% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Durham is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $667/month back in your pocket ($8,004/year). Over five years that's $40,020 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Anaheim's median income is 17% higher than Durham
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Anaheim (about $13,608 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
26% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 26% lower than Durham
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Anaheim
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Anaheim averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Anaheim sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Durham if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 17% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Durham (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,508/month in Durham versus $2,175 in Anaheim. Median income reads $81,619 in Durham and $95,227 in Anaheim, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Anaheim vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 72°F in Anaheim and 59°F in Durham.
Durham clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Anaheim deserves a serious look only when your $95,227 income offer in Anaheim outweighs saving $667/month in Durham.
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