City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Raleigh and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Raleigh and St Petersburg are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,663 in St Petersburg, and median household income lands at $85,395 versus $75,192. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. St Petersburg 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Raleigh and St Petersburg are 593 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $91 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $75,192 in St Petersburg, down $10,203 (12%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 165 in St Petersburg, up 23 points (16%).
The move
St Petersburg and Raleigh are 593 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $91 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $10,203 (14%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 142 in Raleigh, down 23 points (14%).
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Raleigh and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 5% cheaper than St Petersburg
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Raleigh is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $91, or $1,092 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
14% higher
Raleigh's median income is 14% higher than St Petersburg
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
St Petersburg
$75,192
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $75,192 in St Petersburg, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Raleigh (about $10,203 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. St Petersburg can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
14% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 14% lower than St Petersburg
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Raleigh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Raleigh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Petersburg. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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 5% 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 14% 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 14% lower than St Petersburg (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 St Petersburg if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but St Petersburg is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,663/month rent in St Petersburg at 77°F versus $1,572 in Raleigh at 60°F. Income runs $75,192 vs $85,395, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $91 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $75,192 in St Petersburg.
St Petersburg wins on climate (77°F vs 60°F); Raleigh is the better fit if $1,572 rent and $85,395 pay matter more than daily weather.
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 St Petersburg, plus other cities in NC and FL.
