City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 89 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Nashville 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 crime gap is citywide. Durham has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Durham are 440 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $78 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $81,619 in Durham, up $4,248 (5%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 193 in Durham, down 89 points (32%).
The move
Durham and Nashville are 440 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $78 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $77,371 in Nashville, down $4,248 (5%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 282 in Nashville, up 89 points (46%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Durham rent is 5% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Durham is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $78, or $936 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
5% higher
Durham's median income is 5% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Durham (about $4,248 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
32% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 32% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
17% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 17% more comfortable than Durham
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 17% 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 Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (64°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 17%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 5% 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 5% 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 32% lower than Nashville (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Durham leads on safety (40/100 vs 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (40/100 in Durham vs 28/100 in Nashville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $77,371 in Nashville.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Durham; Nashville only makes sense when you have walked the Nashville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
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