City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fresno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,421 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Fresno and Durham 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 $1,421 in Fresno and $1,508 in Durham, and median household income lands at $70,991 versus $81,619. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Fresno costs less and Durham pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. 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
Fresno and Durham are 2,257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $87 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $81,619 in Durham, up $10,628 (15%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 193 in Durham, down 2 points (1%).
The move
Durham and Fresno are 2,257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,421 a month in Fresno, down $87 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $70,991 in Fresno, down $10,628 (13%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 195 in Fresno, up 2 points (1%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Fresno rent is 6% cheaper than Durham
Fresno
Winner$1,421/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,421 a month in Fresno versus $1,508 in Durham, so Fresno is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $87, or $1,044 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 Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Durham's median income is 15% higher than Fresno
Fresno
$70,991
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Durham (about $10,628 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. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 1% lower than Fresno
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 195 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Durham. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Durham, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fresno. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Fresno
Winner69°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Fresno averages about 69°F (78°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Fresno sits near 69°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. Fresno 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
Fresno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,421 a month. Choose Fresno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (69°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 15% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than Fresno (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.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Durham median income is $81,619 versus $70,991 in Fresno (13% higher). Rent still runs $1,508/month in Durham and $1,421/month in Fresno, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Durham rates.
With only $87 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,421 in Fresno and $1,508 in Durham.
If local pay drives your move, Durham is the stronger match ($81,619 median income against $70,991). If an employer or family tie already points to Fresno, treat $1,421/month rent and $70,991 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Fresno?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fresno when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fresno and Durham, plus other cities in CA and NC.
