City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Cincinnati and Durham is significant: $52,909 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,001 in Cincinnati 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. Cincinnati 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cincinnati and Durham are 376 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $507 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $81,619 in Durham, up $28,710 (54%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 193 in Durham, down 38 points (16%).
The move
Durham and Cincinnati are 376 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $507 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $28,710 (35%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 231 in Cincinnati, up 38 points (20%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 34% cheaper than Durham
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,508 in Durham, so Cincinnati is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $507/month back in your pocket ($6,084/year). Over five years that's $30,420 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 Durham, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati 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
54% higher
Durham's median income is 54% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 54% higher in Durham (about $28,710 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. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 16% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% 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. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
26% more comfortable
Durham weather is 26% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Cincinnati averages around 53°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 26% 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati 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 54% 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 16% lower than Cincinnati (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Cincinnati at $1,001/month versus $1,508 in Durham ($507 apart). Durham median income is $81,619 against $52,909 in Cincinnati, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 35/100 in Cincinnati and 40/100 in Durham.
If housing cost drives your move, Cincinnati is the stronger match ($1,001/month rent against $1,508). If an employer or family tie already points to Durham, treat $1,508/month rent and $81,619 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cincinnati and Durham, plus other cities in OH and NC.
