City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Memphis and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 302 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Durham are 629 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $327 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $81,619 in Durham, up $29,883 (58%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 193 in Durham, down 302 points (61%).
The move
Durham and Memphis are 629 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $327 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $51,736 in Memphis, down $29,883 (37%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 495 in Memphis, up 302 points (156%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Memphis rent is 22% cheaper than Durham
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,508 in Durham, so Memphis is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $327/month back in your pocket ($3,924/year). Over five years that's $19,620 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 Durham, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
58% higher
Durham's median income is 58% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Durham (about $29,883 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 61% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°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. Memphis 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
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Memphis 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 58% 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 61% lower than Memphis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Durham: Durham scores 40/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,508 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 29 safety points for housing savings.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,508 in Durham.
If safety drives your move, Durham is the stronger match (40/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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