City comparison
Durham is safer than Kansas City. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Kansas City and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 150 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City 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. Kansas City 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. Kansas City at $1,238 average has pockets that run $1,038 and others at $1,638: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Kansas City and Durham are 884 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $270 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $81,619 in Durham, up $12,453 (18%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 193 in Durham, down 150 points (44%).
The move
Durham and Kansas City are 884 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $270 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $12,453 (15%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 343 in Kansas City, up 150 points (78%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 18% cheaper than Durham
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,508 in Durham, so Kansas City is 18% 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 $3,240, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Kansas City 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Durham's median income is 18% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Durham (about $12,453 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. Kansas City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 44% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Durham weather is 18% more comfortable than Kansas City
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Durham
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Durham averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 63°F. Durham scores 18% 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City 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 18% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°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 44% lower than Kansas City (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
Kansas City carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 40/100 in Durham). That 17-point spread matters more than the $270 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $69,166), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $69,166 in Kansas City.
Durham clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Kansas City deserves a serious look only when you already know the Kansas City block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Durham?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and Durham, plus other cities in MO and NC.
