City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Durham split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 55 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham is the easier city on typical rent, but Las Vegas can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Durham are 2,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $55 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $81,619 in Durham, up $7,742 (10%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 193 in Durham, up 55 points (40%).
The move
Durham and Las Vegas are 2,012 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $55 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $7,742 (9%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 138 in Las Vegas, down 55 points (28%).
Las Vegas, NV
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 Las Vegas and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Durham rent is 4% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Durham is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $55, or $660 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Durham's median income is 10% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Durham (about $7,742 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
28% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 28% lower than Durham
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Las Vegas. 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, Las Vegas 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
Las Vegas weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Las Vegas
Winner75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°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. Las Vegas 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
Pick Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Durham (138 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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Las Vegas: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 40/100 in Durham, with typical rent at $1,563 versus $1,508. I would vet the exact ZIP in Durham before trading 10 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Las Vegas vs 40/100 in Durham), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Pick Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Durham's case rests on a Durham ZIP you trust at $1,508 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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