City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Baltimore and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 145 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Durham is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Durham has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Baltimore and Durham are 260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $177 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $81,619 in Durham, up $19,442 (31%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 193 in Durham, down 145 points (43%).
The move
Durham and Baltimore are 260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $177 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $19,442 (24%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 338 in Baltimore, up 145 points (75%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 12% cheaper than Durham
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,508 in Durham, so Baltimore 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 $2,124, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Baltimore still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Durham.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Durham's median income is 31% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Durham (about $19,442 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, Durham is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 43% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Durham. 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, Durham is the easier city. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Durham weather is 15% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 15% 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 Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 31% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Baltimore (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
Safety is the widest gap: Durham scores 40/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore. Rent is $1,508/month in Durham and $1,331/month in Baltimore, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Baltimore rent at $1,331/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is ahead on safety (40/100 vs 23/100); Baltimore is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,331/month rent plus $62,177 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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