City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Atlanta and Durham are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,508 in Durham, and median household income lands at $85,652 versus $81,619. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham costs less and Atlanta pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Atlanta and Durham are 348 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $203 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $81,619 in Durham, down $4,033 (5%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 193 in Durham, down 4 points (2%).
The move
Durham and Atlanta are 348 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $203 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $4,033 (5%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 197 in Atlanta, up 4 points (2%).
Atlanta, GA
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 Atlanta and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Durham rent is 12% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Durham is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,436, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Atlanta.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Atlanta's median income is 5% higher than Durham
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Atlanta (about $4,033 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
2% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 2% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Durham. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Durham, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Atlanta. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
7% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 7% more comfortable than Durham
Atlanta
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Atlanta scores 7% 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 5% higher ($85,652), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% 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.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Atlanta (193 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,508/month in Durham versus $1,711 in Atlanta. Median income reads $81,619 in Durham and $85,652 in Atlanta, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $81,619 in Durham.
Durham clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Atlanta deserves a serious look only when your $85,652 income offer in Atlanta outweighs saving $203/month in Durham.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Atlanta and Durham, plus other cities in GA and NC.
