City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and Durham is the real story here. Durham comes in 22% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,508), which over a year adds up to $5,100. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $81,619 in Durham.
Los Angeles is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Los Angeles is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Durham are 2,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $425 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $81,619 in Durham, down $320 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 193 in Durham, up 35 points (22%).
The move
Durham and Los Angeles are 2,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $425 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $320 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 158 in Los Angeles, down 35 points (18%).
Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Durham rent is 22% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Durham is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $425/month back in your pocket ($5,100/year). Over five years that's $25,500 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 Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 1% higher than Durham
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Los Angeles (about $320 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
18% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 18% lower than Durham
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Los Angeles. 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, Los Angeles 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
Los Angeles weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Los Angeles
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°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. Los Angeles 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
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 1% higher ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Durham (158 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% 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.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,933/month rent in Los Angeles at 77°F versus $1,508 in Durham at 59°F. Income runs $81,939 vs $81,619, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 40/100 in Durham.
Los Angeles wins on climate (77°F vs 59°F); Durham is the better fit if $1,508 rent and $81,619 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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