City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Philadelphia and Durham is significant: $61,953 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Durham are 341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $111 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $81,619 in Durham, up $19,666 (32%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 193 in Durham, down 68 points (26%).
The move
Durham and Philadelphia are 341 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $111 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $19,666 (24%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 261 in Philadelphia, up 68 points (35%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 7% cheaper than Durham
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,508 in Durham, so Philadelphia is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 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
32% higher
Durham's median income is 32% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Durham (about $19,666 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
26% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 26% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Durham weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 32% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than Philadelphia (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 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 59°F in Durham.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Durham; Philadelphia only makes sense when you have walked the Philadelphia ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,397 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Durham, plus other cities in PA and NC.
