City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Durham.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Orlando and Durham are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,747 in Orlando and $1,508 in Durham, and median household income lands at $72,336 versus $81,619. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. Orlando 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Orlando and Durham are 535 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $239 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $81,619 in Durham, up $9,283 (13%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 193 in Durham, down 49 points (20%).
The move
Durham and Orlando are 535 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $239 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $72,336 in Orlando, down $9,283 (11%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 242 in Orlando, up 49 points (25%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Durham rent is 14% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Durham is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,868, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Durham still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Durham's median income is 13% higher than Orlando
Orlando
$72,336
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Durham (about $9,283 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 20% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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. Orlando 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
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Orlando 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 14% 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 13% 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 20% lower than Orlando (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,508/month in Durham versus $1,747 in Orlando. Median income reads $81,619 in Durham and $72,336 in Orlando, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Orlando and 59°F in Durham.
Durham clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Orlando deserves a serious look only when your $72,336 income offer in Orlando outweighs saving $239/month in Durham.
Safety scores read 33/100 in Orlando and 40/100 in Durham.
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
Open full neighborhood reports for Orlando and Durham, plus other cities in FL and NC.
