City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 78 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham costs less and Denver 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
Denver and Durham are 1,441 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $323 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $81,619 in Durham, down $13,099 (14%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 193 in Durham, down 78 points (29%).
The move
Durham and Denver are 1,441 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $323 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $94,718 in Denver, up $13,099 (16%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 271 in Denver, up 78 points (40%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Durham rent is 18% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,831 in Denver, so Durham is 18% 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 $3,876, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Denver.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Denver's median income is 16% higher than Durham
Denver
Winner$94,718
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Denver (about $13,099 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, Denver 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
29% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 29% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Denver weather is 11% more comfortable than Durham
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 11% 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
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 16% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°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
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% 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.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Denver (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Durham leads on safety (40/100 vs 30/100 in Denver). Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $1,831 in Denver; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $81,619 in Durham.
Between Denver and Durham, Durham is ahead on safety — 40/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Denver instead when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Durham, plus other cities in CO and NC.
