City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Phoenix and Raleigh 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 $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $81,332 versus $85,395. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Raleigh 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. Phoenix makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh 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
Phoenix and Raleigh are 1,899 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $4,063 (5%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 142 in Raleigh, down 32 points (18%).
The move
Raleigh and Phoenix are 1,899 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $81,332 in Phoenix, down $4,063 (5%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 174 in Phoenix, up 32 points (23%).
Phoenix, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Phoenix and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 1% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Raleigh is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Raleigh's median income is 5% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix
$81,332
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $81,332 in Phoenix, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Raleigh (about $4,063 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
18% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 18% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh is the easier city. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Phoenix and Raleigh are about even on typical weather.
Phoenix
80°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 80°F (86°F highs); Raleigh averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Phoenix sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Phoenix
On these five categories Raleigh takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Phoenix because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Phoenix only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Phoenix (142 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 Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 43/100 in Phoenix, with matched rent near $1,572/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Phoenix before trading 6 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $81,332 in Phoenix — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Raleigh when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Phoenix's case rests on a Phoenix ZIP you trust at $1,582 rent.
Weather averages land near 80°F in Phoenix and 67°F in Raleigh.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Raleigh, plus other cities in AZ and NC.
