City comparison
Yes. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Durham and St Louis split most clearly. Durham scores 159 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 $997 in St Louis.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Durham and St Louis are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $997 a month in St Louis, down $511 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $56,160 in St Louis, down $25,459 (31%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 352 in St Louis, up 159 points (82%).
The move
St Louis and Durham are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $511 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $81,619 in Durham, up $25,459 (45%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 193 in Durham, down 159 points (45%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
St Louis rent is 34% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,508 in Durham, so St Louis is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $511/month back in your pocket ($6,132/year). Over five years that's $30,660 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 Durham, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis 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
45% higher
Durham's median income is 45% higher than St Louis
Durham
Winner$81,619
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Durham (about $25,459 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 45% lower than St Louis
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Durham. 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, Durham is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Durham weather is 4% more comfortable than St Louis
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 4% 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 St Louis 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 45% 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.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than St Louis (193 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Durham leads on safety (40/100 vs 22/100 in St Louis). Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $997 in St Louis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Between Durham and St Louis, Durham is ahead on safety — 40/100 safety versus 22/100. Lean St Louis instead when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 St Louis, plus other cities in NC and MO.
