City comparison
Yes. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 240 in Anchorage, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 295, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Anchorage is cheaper. Median rent is $1,489 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Durham and Anchorage. Durham averages 59°F while Anchorage averages 37°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,508 versus $1,489.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Anchorage is the easier city on typical rent, but Durham can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Anchorage in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Durham and Anchorage are 3,459 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,489 a month in Anchorage, down $19 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $103,284 in Anchorage, up $21,665 (27%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 240 in Anchorage, up 47 points (24%).
The move
Anchorage and Durham are 3,459 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,489 a month in Anchorage to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $19 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $103,284 in Anchorage to $81,619 in Durham, down $21,665 (21%).
The crime index goes from 240 in Anchorage to 193 in Durham, down 47 points (20%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anchorage, AK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Anchorage rent is 1% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Anchorage
Winner$1,489/mo
Typical rent runs $1,489 a month in Anchorage versus $1,508 in Durham, so Anchorage is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $19, or $228 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 Anchorage? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Anchorage's median income is 27% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Anchorage
Winner$103,284
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Anchorage (about $21,665 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, Anchorage 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
20% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 20% lower than Anchorage
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Anchorage
240 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 240 in Anchorage (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Anchorage can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
277% more comfortable
Durham weather is 277% more comfortable than Anchorage
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Anchorage
37°F avg · 42°F highs · comfort 22/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Anchorage averages about 37°F (42°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anchorage averages around 37°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 277% 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 Anchorage 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
Pick Durham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Anchorage on this page's weather index by 277%. Anchorage may pay more or cost less, but Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Anchorage (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anchorage is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,489 a month. Choose Anchorage if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Anchorage is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($103,284). Start with Anchorage if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Durham is the warmer market (59°F) and Anchorage the cooler (37°F). Typical leases run $1,508 and $1,489; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Safety scores read 40/100 in Durham and 33/100 in Anchorage.
Between Durham and Anchorage, Durham is ahead on climate — 59°F typical weather versus 37°F. Lean Anchorage instead when you would rather tolerate 37°F than optimize for Durham's comfort score.
Median income is $103,284 in Anchorage versus $81,619 in Durham.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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