City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
Safety is where Durham and Jersey City split most clearly. Jersey City scores 58 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 $2,007 in Jersey City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham costs less and Jersey City 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
Durham and Jersey City are 418 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $499 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $16,091 (20%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 135 in Jersey City, down 58 points (30%).
The move
Jersey City and Durham are 418 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $499 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $81,619 in Durham, down $16,091 (16%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 193 in Durham, up 58 points (43%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Durham rent is 25% cheaper than Jersey City
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so Durham is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $499/month back in your pocket ($5,988/year). Over five years that's $29,940 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 Jersey City, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham 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
20% higher
Jersey City's median income is 20% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Jersey City (about $16,091 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, Jersey City 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
30% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 30% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
26% more comfortable
Durham weather is 26% more comfortable than Jersey City
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jersey City averages around 53°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 Jersey City 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
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% 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.
Pick Durham if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Jersey City on this page's weather index by 26%. Jersey City may pay more or cost less, but Durham is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Durham (135 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 Jersey City leads on safety (51/100 vs 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $2,007 in Jersey City and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Jersey City still pays more locally ($97,710 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jersey City rates.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $81,619 in Durham.
Between Durham and Jersey City, Jersey City is ahead on safety — 51/100 safety versus 40/100. Lean Durham instead when you already know the Durham 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 Durham and Jersey City, plus other cities in NC and NJ.
