City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Raleigh and Greensboro is significant: $85,395 median household versus $61,515. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,172 in Greensboro.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Raleigh and Greensboro are 68 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $400 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $23,880 (28%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 214 in Greensboro, up 72 points (51%).
The move
Greensboro and Raleigh are 68 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $400 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $23,880 (39%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 142 in Raleigh, down 72 points (34%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 25% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Greensboro is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $400/month back in your pocket ($4,800/year). Over five years that's $24,000 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Raleigh, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Greensboro is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Raleigh's median income is 39% higher than Greensboro
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Greensboro
$61,515
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Raleigh (about $23,880 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, Raleigh is the stronger labor market on paper. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
34% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 34% lower than Greensboro
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 15% more comfortable than Greensboro
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 15% 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 Greensboro 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 39% 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 34% lower than Greensboro (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 Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 37/100 in Greensboro. Rent is $1,572/month in Raleigh and $1,172/month in Greensboro, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Greensboro rent at $1,172/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Raleigh; Greensboro only makes sense when you have walked the Greensboro ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,172 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Greensboro, plus other cities in NC.
