City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Dallas and Durham is significant: $70,518 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,472 in Dallas and $1,508 in Durham.
Dallas is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Dallas is the stronger move.
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
Dallas and Durham are 1,043 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $36 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $81,619 in Durham, up $11,101 (16%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 193 in Durham, up 5 points (3%).
The move
Durham and Dallas are 1,043 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $36 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $70,518 in Dallas, down $11,101 (14%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 188 in Dallas, down 5 points (3%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Dallas rent is 2% cheaper than Durham
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,508 in Durham, so Dallas is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $36, or $432 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 Dallas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Durham's median income is 16% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Durham (about $11,101 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
3% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 3% lower than Durham
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 20% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Durham (188 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Durham median income is $81,619 versus $70,518 in Dallas (14% higher). Rent still runs $1,508/month in Durham and $1,472/month in Dallas, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Durham rates.
With only $36 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 41/100 in Dallas and 40/100 in Durham.
Pick Durham when your field pays toward $81,619 median income. Otherwise, Dallas's case rests on a $1,472 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Durham, plus other cities in TX and NC.
