City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Durham. Boston averages 50°F while Durham averages 59°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,508.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham costs less and Boston 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.
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
Boston and Durham are 607 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $639 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $81,619 in Durham, down $15,725 (16%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 193 in Durham, up 46 points (31%).
The move
Durham and Boston are 607 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $639 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $97,344 in Boston, up $15,725 (19%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 147 in Boston, down 46 points (24%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Durham rent is 30% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,147 in Boston, so Durham is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $639/month back in your pocket ($7,668/year). Over five years that's $38,340 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 Boston, 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Boston's median income is 19% higher than Durham
Boston
Winner$97,344
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Boston (about $15,725 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, Boston 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
24% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 24% lower than Durham
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
43% more comfortable
Durham weather is 43% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Boston averages around 50°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 43% 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 Boston 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 and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 19% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Durham (147 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% 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.
Pick Durham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 43%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Durham at $1,508/month versus $2,147 in Boston ($639 apart). Boston median income is $97,344 against $81,619 in Durham, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Boston vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 50°F in Boston and 59°F in Durham.
If housing cost drives your move, Durham is the stronger match ($1,508/month rent against $2,147). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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 Boston and Durham, plus other cities in MA and NC.
