City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Raleigh and Durham split most clearly. Raleigh scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,508 in Durham.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Durham has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Durham are 21 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $64 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $81,619 in Durham, down $3,776 (4%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 193 in Durham, up 51 points (36%).
The move
Durham and Raleigh are 21 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $64 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $3,776 (5%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 142 in Raleigh, down 51 points (26%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Durham rent is 4% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Durham is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $64, or $768 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 Durham
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Raleigh (about $3,776 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
26% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 26% lower than Durham
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
4% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 4% more comfortable than Durham
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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 5% higher ($85,395), 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.
Raleigh 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 Durham (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 40/100 in Durham, with typical rent at $1,572 versus $1,508. I would vet the exact ZIP in Durham before trading 9 safety points for housing savings.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 59°F in Durham.
Raleigh 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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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Durham, plus other cities in NC.
