City comparison
No. St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 167 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Durham and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Durham and St Petersburg are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,508 in Durham and $1,663 in St Petersburg, and median household income lands at $81,619 versus $75,192. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but St Petersburg can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Durham and St Petersburg are 601 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $155 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $6,427 (8%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 165 in St Petersburg, down 28 points (15%).
The move
St Petersburg and Durham are 601 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $155 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $81,619 in Durham, up $6,427 (9%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 193 in Durham, up 28 points (17%).
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Durham and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Durham rent is 9% cheaper than St Petersburg
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Durham is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $155, or $1,860 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
9% higher
Durham's median income is 9% higher than St Petersburg
Durham
Winner$81,619
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Durham (about $6,427 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
15% lower crime
St Petersburg's crime index is 15% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
Winner165 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg's crime index is 165 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in St Petersburg. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Petersburg, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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 9% 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 9% 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 St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
St Petersburg is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Durham (165 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
St Petersburg runs 77°F typical weather against 59°F in Durham (comfort scores 100 vs 83). Housing is $1,663/month versus $1,508/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $155 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $75,192 in St Petersburg.
If climate drives your move, Durham is the stronger match (59°F typical weather versus 77°F). If an employer or family tie already points to St Petersburg, treat $1,663/month rent and $75,192 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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 Petersburg, plus other cities in NC and FL.
