City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Raleigh and Oakland split most clearly. Raleigh scores 292 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 $1,979 in Oakland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh costs less and Oakland 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. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Raleigh and Oakland are 2,396 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $407 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $101,600 in Oakland, up $16,205 (19%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 434 in Oakland, up 292 points (206%).
The move
Oakland and Raleigh are 2,396 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $407 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $16,205 (16%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 142 in Raleigh, down 292 points (67%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 21% cheaper than Oakland
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Raleigh is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $407/month back in your pocket ($4,884/year). Over five years that's $24,420 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 Oakland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Raleigh 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
19% higher
Oakland's median income is 19% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh
$85,395
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Oakland (about $16,205 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
67% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 67% lower than Oakland
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Oakland weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Oakland
Winner68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Oakland sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oakland scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Oakland (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
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 19% higher ($101,600), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 49/100 in Raleigh). That 34-point spread matters more than the $407 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Oakland still pays more locally ($101,600 median income vs $85,395), which can offset the lease if your field pays Oakland rates.
Median income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $85,395 in Raleigh.
If safety drives your move, Raleigh is the stronger match (49/100 safety versus 15/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Oakland, treat $1,979/month rent and $101,600 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Oakland, plus other cities in NC and CA.
