City comparison
Yes. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Pittsburgh and Durham. Pittsburgh averages 51°F while Durham averages 59°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,261 versus $1,508.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Durham 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. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Pittsburgh and Durham are 313 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $247 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $81,619 in Durham, up $15,877 (24%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 193 in Durham, up 35 points (22%).
The move
Durham and Pittsburgh are 313 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $247 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $15,877 (19%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 35 points (18%).
Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 16% cheaper than Durham
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,508 in Durham, so Pittsburgh is 16% 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 $2,964, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Durham.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Durham's median income is 24% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Durham (about $15,877 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. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 18% lower than Durham
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Pittsburgh. 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, Pittsburgh is the easier city. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
36% more comfortable
Durham weather is 36% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 51°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 36% 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 Pittsburgh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pittsburgh 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 Durham (158 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.
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 ($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.
Bottom line
Durham carries the heavier crime signal on this page (40/100 safety vs 46/100 in Pittsburgh). That 6-point spread matters more than the $247 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Durham deserves a serious look only when you already know the Durham block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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