City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Safety is where Durham and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 42 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Reno makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Durham is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Reno has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Durham and Reno are 2,229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $80,760 in Reno, down $859 (1%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 151 in Reno, down 42 points (22%).
The move
Reno and Durham are 2,229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $48 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $81,619 in Durham, up $859 (1%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 193 in Durham, up 42 points (28%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Durham rent is 3% cheaper than Reno
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Reno
$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,556 in Reno, so Durham is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $48, or $576 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
1% higher
Durham's median income is 1% higher than Reno
Durham
Winner$81,619
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Durham (about $859 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
22% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 22% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
11% more comfortable
Durham weather is 11% more comfortable than Reno
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Reno
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Reno averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Reno averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham 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 Reno 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
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°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
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Durham (151 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 Reno leads on safety (47/100 vs 40/100 in Durham). Typical rent is $1,556 in Reno and $1,508 in Durham; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $48 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,556 in Reno.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Reno; Durham only makes sense when you have walked the Durham ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,508 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Durham and Reno, plus other cities in NC and NV.
