City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where El Paso and Durham split most clearly. El Paso scores 106 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,508 in Durham.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 El Paso is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Durham are 1,604 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $435 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $81,619 in Durham, up $21,874 (37%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 193 in Durham, up 106 points (122%).
The move
Durham and El Paso are 1,604 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $435 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $59,745 in El Paso, down $21,874 (27%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 87 in El Paso, down 106 points (55%).
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing El Paso and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
El Paso rent is 29% cheaper than Durham
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,508 in Durham, so El Paso is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $435/month back in your pocket ($5,220/year). Over five years that's $26,100 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Durham's median income is 37% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Durham (about $21,874 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
55% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 55% lower than Durham
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
El Paso weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Durham (87 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Durham carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 64/100 in El Paso). That 24-point spread matters more than the $435 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $59,745 in El Paso.
If safety drives your move, El Paso is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 40/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Durham, treat $1,508/month rent and $81,619 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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