City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Safety is where Durham and Scottsdale split most clearly. Scottsdale scores 114 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 $2,013 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Scottsdale is the stronger move.
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 Scottsdale are 1,872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, up $505 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $110,886 in Scottsdale, up $29,267 (36%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 79 in Scottsdale, down 114 points (59%).
The move
Scottsdale and Durham are 1,872 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $505 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $81,619 in Durham, down $29,267 (26%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 193 in Durham, up 114 points (144%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Durham rent is 25% cheaper than Scottsdale
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Scottsdale
$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,013 in Scottsdale, so Durham is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $505/month back in your pocket ($6,060/year). Over five years that's $30,300 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 Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Scottsdale's median income is 36% higher than Durham
Durham
$81,619
Scottsdale
Winner$110,886
Median household income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Scottsdale (about $29,267 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, Scottsdale 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
59% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 59% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Scottsdale. 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, Scottsdale 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
Scottsdale weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Scottsdale
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Scottsdale sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 36% higher ($110,886), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than Durham (79 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 carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 67/100 in Scottsdale). That 27-point spread matters more than the $505 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Scottsdale still pays more locally ($110,886 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Scottsdale rates.
Median income is $110,886 in Scottsdale versus $81,619 in Durham.
Scottsdale 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.
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