City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Louisville and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 67 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Louisville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Louisville at $1,120 average has pockets that run $920 and others at $1,520: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Louisville and Raleigh are 429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $452 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $18,546 (28%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 142 in Raleigh, down 67 points (32%).
The move
Raleigh and Louisville are 429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $452 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $66,849 in Louisville, down $18,546 (22%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 209 in Louisville, up 67 points (47%).
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Louisville and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Louisville rent is 29% cheaper than Raleigh
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Louisville is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $452/month back in your pocket ($5,424/year). Over five years that's $27,120 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 Raleigh, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Louisville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Raleigh's median income is 28% higher than Louisville
Louisville
$66,849
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Raleigh (about $18,546 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, Raleigh is the stronger labor market on paper. Louisville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 32% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh is the easier city. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 15% more comfortable than Louisville
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Raleigh scores 15% 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 Louisville 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 Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville 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 28% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Louisville (142 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: $1,120/month in Louisville versus $1,572 in Raleigh. Median income reads $66,849 in Louisville and $85,395 in Raleigh, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Louisville rent at $1,120/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $66,849 in Louisville.
Louisville clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Raleigh deserves a serious look only when your $85,395 income offer in Raleigh outweighs saving $452/month in Louisville.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Louisville and Raleigh, plus other cities in KY and NC.
