City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Greensboro and Durham is significant: $61,515 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro 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. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Greensboro and Durham are 50 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $336 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $81,619 in Durham, up $20,104 (33%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 193 in Durham, down 21 points (10%).
The move
Durham and Greensboro are 50 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $336 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $20,104 (25%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 214 in Greensboro, up 21 points (11%).
Greensboro, NC
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 Greensboro and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 22% cheaper than Durham
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,508 in Durham, so Greensboro is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $336/month back in your pocket ($4,032/year). Over five years that's $20,160 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, Greensboro 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
33% higher
Durham's median income is 33% higher than Greensboro
Greensboro
$61,515
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Durham (about $20,104 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 10% lower than Greensboro
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% 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 Greensboro. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Durham weather is 11% more comfortable than Greensboro
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 11% 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 Greensboro 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 Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro 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 33% 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 10% lower than Greensboro (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,172/month in Greensboro versus $1,508 in Durham. Median income reads $61,515 in Greensboro and $81,619 in Durham, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Greensboro rent at $1,172/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in Greensboro and 40/100 in Durham.
If housing cost drives your move, Greensboro is the stronger match ($1,172/month rent against $1,508). 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.
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 Greensboro and Durham, plus other cities in NC.
