City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Raleigh and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Raleigh and Orlando split most clearly. Raleigh scores 100 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 $1,747 in Orlando.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Orlando 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 Orlando has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Orlando are 525 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $175 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $72,336 in Orlando, down $13,059 (15%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 242 in Orlando, up 100 points (70%).
The move
Orlando and Raleigh are 525 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $175 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $13,059 (18%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 142 in Raleigh, down 100 points (41%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 10% cheaper than Orlando
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Raleigh is 10% 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 $2,100, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Orlando.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Raleigh's median income is 18% higher than Orlando
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Raleigh (about $13,059 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. Orlando can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
41% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 41% lower than Orlando
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Orlando (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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Raleigh leads on safety (49/100 vs 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Raleigh vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 71°F in Orlando.
Raleigh is ahead on safety (49/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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