City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Houston and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 77 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Durham has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Durham are 1,046 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $147 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $81,619 in Durham, up $16,806 (26%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 193 in Durham, down 77 points (29%).
The move
Durham and Houston are 1,046 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $147 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $64,813 in Houston, down $16,806 (21%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 270 in Houston, up 77 points (40%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Houston rent is 10% cheaper than Durham
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,508 in Durham, so Houston is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,764, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Houston still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Durham.
Planning to buy in Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Durham's median income is 26% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Durham (about $16,806 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
29% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 29% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Houston weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Houston sits near 70°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. Houston 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Houston 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 26% 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 29% lower than Houston (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
Safety is the widest gap: Durham scores 40/100 versus 30/100 in Houston. Rent is $1,508/month in Durham and $1,361/month in Houston, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 70°F in Houston and 59°F in Durham.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Durham; Houston only makes sense when you have walked the Houston ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Durham, plus other cities in TX and NC.
