City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 241 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham costs less and Oakland 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. 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
Oakland and Durham are 2,378 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $471 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $81,619 in Durham, down $19,981 (20%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 193 in Durham, down 241 points (56%).
The move
Durham and Oakland are 2,378 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $471 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $101,600 in Oakland, up $19,981 (24%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 434 in Oakland, up 241 points (125%).
Oakland, 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 Oakland and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Durham rent is 24% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Durham is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $471/month back in your pocket ($5,652/year). Over five years that's $28,260 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 Oakland, 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Oakland's median income is 24% higher than Durham
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Oakland (about $19,981 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 56% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Oakland 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. Oakland 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 24% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Oakland (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 15/100 in Oakland). Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $1,979 in Oakland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $81,619), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $81,619 in Durham.
Durham is ahead on safety (40/100 vs 15/100); Oakland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,979/month rent plus $101,600 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oakland and Durham, plus other cities in CA and NC.
