City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Austin and Raleigh 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 $1,729 in Austin and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $93,658 versus $85,395. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh costs less and Austin 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
Austin and Raleigh are 1,168 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $157 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $8,263 (9%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 142 in Raleigh, down 20 points (12%).
The move
Raleigh and Austin are 1,168 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $157 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $93,658 in Austin, up $8,263 (10%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 162 in Austin, up 20 points (14%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 9% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,729 in Austin, so Raleigh is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $157, or $1,884 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Austin's median income is 10% higher than Raleigh
Austin
Winner$93,658
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Austin (about $8,263 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
12% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 12% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Raleigh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Raleigh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Austin weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Austin scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 10% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Austin (142 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
Austin carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 49/100 in Raleigh). That 4-point spread matters more than the $157 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Raleigh rent at $1,572/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $85,395 in Raleigh.
If safety drives your move, Raleigh is the stronger match (49/100 safety versus 45/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Austin, treat $1,729/month rent and $93,658 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Raleigh, plus other cities in TX and NC.
