City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where Durham and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 49 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham and $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but Glendale can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Glendale has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and Glendale are 1,888 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $20 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $73,530 in Glendale, down $8,089 (10%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 144 in Glendale, down 49 points (25%).
The move
Glendale and Durham are 1,888 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $20 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $81,619 in Durham, up $8,089 (11%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 193 in Durham, up 49 points (34%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Durham rent is 1% cheaper than Glendale
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Durham is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $20, or $240 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Durham's median income is 11% higher than Glendale
Durham
Winner$81,619
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Durham (about $8,089 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. Glendale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 25% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Glendale. 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, Glendale 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
17% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 17% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale averages around 81°F. Glendale scores 17% 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 and professional growth
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Glendale if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (81°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 17%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Glendale is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Durham (144 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
Durham (59°F) and Glendale (81°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 22°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,508 vs $1,528) and pay ($81,619 vs $73,530) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $73,530 in Glendale.
Durham clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Glendale deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 81°F than optimize for Durham's comfort score.
Safety scores read 40/100 in Durham and 49/100 in Glendale.
Common questions
Ready to move to Durham?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Glendale, plus other cities in NC and AZ.
