City comparison
No. North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 110 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
Safety is where Durham and North Las Vegas split most clearly. North Las Vegas scores 83 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 $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but North Las Vegas 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. North Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and North Las Vegas are 2,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas, up $197 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $79,542 in North Las Vegas, down $2,077 (3%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 110 in North Las Vegas, down 83 points (43%).
The move
North Las Vegas and Durham are 2,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $197 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $79,542 in North Las Vegas to $81,619 in Durham, up $2,077 (3%).
The crime index goes from 110 in North Las Vegas to 193 in Durham, up 83 points (75%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
North Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Durham rent is 12% cheaper than North Las Vegas
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
North Las Vegas
$1,705/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas, so Durham is 12% 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 $2,364, 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 North Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Durham's median income is 3% higher than North Las Vegas
Durham
Winner$81,619
North Las Vegas
$79,542
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $79,542 in North Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Durham (about $2,077 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
43% lower crime
North Las Vegas's crime index is 43% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas
Winner110 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in North Las Vegas. 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, North Las Vegas 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
20% more comfortable
North Las Vegas weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
North Las Vegas
Winner76°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); North Las Vegas averages about 76°F (82°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. North Las Vegas sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. North Las Vegas 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
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 12% 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 3% 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 North Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but North Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
North Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Durham (110 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
Crime and safety tilt toward North Las Vegas: North Las Vegas scores 57/100 versus 40/100 in Durham, with typical rent at $1,705 versus $1,508. I would vet the exact ZIP in Durham before trading 17 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (57/100 in North Las Vegas vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
North Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Durham deserves a serious look only when you already know the Durham block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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