City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 72 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Durham costs less and Portland 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 crime gap is citywide. Durham has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Durham are 2,352 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $147 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $81,619 in Durham, down $9,300 (10%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 193 in Durham, down 72 points (27%).
The move
Durham and Portland are 2,352 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $147 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $90,919 in Portland, up $9,300 (11%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 265 in Portland, up 72 points (37%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Durham rent is 9% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,655 in Portland, so Durham is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $147, or $1,764 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
11% higher
Portland's median income is 11% higher than Durham
Portland
Winner$90,919
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Portland (about $9,300 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, Portland 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
27% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 27% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Portland weather is 4% more comfortable than Durham
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 4% 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 11% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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 9% 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 27% lower than Portland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Durham: Durham scores 40/100 versus 30/100 in Portland, with typical rent at $1,508 versus $1,655. I would vet the exact ZIP in Portland before trading 10 safety points for housing savings.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,508 in Durham and $1,655 in Portland.
If safety drives your move, Durham is the stronger match (40/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Portland, treat $1,655/month rent and $90,919 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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